The Bengals are on the sideline this week, and so are a few other NFL teams.
Cincinnati does not have a game in Week 6, which means fans hoping to see Joe Burrow and the rest of the offense will have to wait a little longer. The bye comes after the Bengals beat the previously winless Miami Dolphins 31-24 on Oct. 11.
They’re not the only club taking a breather. The Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings are also on bye this week.
The Bengals’ next game comes after the break, when they travel to face AFC North rival Baltimore on Sunday, Oct. 25 in Maryland.
That matchup could hinge in part on the status of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson hurt his ankle in the second half of Baltimore’s Week 4 win over the Tennessee Titans and was ruled out for the team’s “Sunday Night Football” game against the Atlanta Falcons on Oct.
- Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said Jackson’s outlook for Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns is still uncertain.
"To Lamar's credit, this dude's working his tail off to get back," Minter said. "He's in there all the time. Don't know the specifics of next week, but he'll be doing everything in his power to get back."
Former Bengal-turned-Raven Trey Hendrickson was also ruled out for Sunday night’s game. He has not practiced since surgery on his finger injury during Week 4, and it appears unlikely he’ll be ready when the Bengals return to action.
In Other News...
Bengals Kept The AFC North Race Alive With A Bigger Test Looming
Baltimores overtime win over Atlanta tightened the AFC North picture, and Cincinnati did its part to keep the division race from slipping away by knocking off Miami and ending a two-game skid. Clevelands loss to the Jets knocked the Browns off a three-game run, while Pittsburgh stayed in the mix with a win over Indianapolis and a strong showing from Jaylen Warren, leaving the division crowded again after Week 5.
For the Bengals, the timing matters almost as much as the result. A win like this buys some breathing room and resets the tone after a rough stretch, but the schedule does not offer much time to enjoy it with a bigger test ahead once the bye passes. With Baltimore now in front, Cincinnatis next stretch figures to tell a lot about whether this victory was just a needed pause in the slide or the start of something more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Browning May Have Another Unexpected Shot At Starting
Jake Brownings latest move has landed him in a familiar sort of limbo. The former Bengals backup quarterback signed with the Chargers and sits third on Los Angeles quarterback depth chart behind Justin Herbert and DJ Uiagalelei, a spot that does not exactly scream immediate opportunity but does keep him one snap or one roster wrinkle away from relevance.
For Cincinnati fans, Brownings path is worth watching because the door in Los Angeles only opens if the situation above him changes. There has been speculation that the Chargers could consider trading Herbert, though the team has not confirmed any such plan, and any shift there would immediately alter Brownings standing. For now, it is another reminder that a quarterbacks next chance can arrive in the least expected way. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bengals Keep Exposing A Defensive Problem Cincinnati Still Has
The Bengals defensive issues have been a recurring theme, and a few familiar names are helping keep that conversation alive. Akeem Davis-Gaither, now with the Colts, has been one of the former Cincinnati defenders drawing attention for the way he is tackling and staying involved, while the broader picture still points back to the same concern the Bengals have been trying to solve. The piece also tracks where Trey Hendrickson stands as he works back from injury ahead of a matchup with the Ravens, another reminder of how much Cincinnatis edge presence still matters.
Joseph Ossais situation adds another layer to the story, especially with his status up in the air after leaving the Jets Week 5 win. For the Bengals, the thread connecting all of it is hard to ignore: former players are still being used as a measuring stick for a defense that has not fully steadied itself, and the current group is left trying to show it can be more reliable than the version fans keep seeing on film and in the rankings. [Read more 🡒]