One overlooked issue is starting to show up for the Cincinnati Bengals: the backfield doesn’t have much help when the game turns ugly and the yardage gets tight. Chase Brown and Samaje Perine do what they do well, but the offense could use a runner who can bully his way forward for a hard-earned yard or two when the situation calls for it.
That’s why Kaytron Allen is worth a look. The Washington Commanders surprisingly cut the rookie running back, a sixth-round pick, as they shuffled their roster to make room for players coming back from injury. That decision puts Allen on waivers, and Cincinnati should have interest.
The logic is pretty simple. Defenses aren’t exactly lining up to respect the Bengals’ short-yardage run game right now, and Cincinnati hasn’t done much to force the issue.
But even the possibility of getting that one tough yard changes the equation for Joe Burrow and the rest of the offense. It can widen the playbook and ease some of the burden on the passing game.
For a move with limited downside, it feels like one the Bengals ought to consider.
There’s also some movement on the injury front. Ja’Marr Chase returned to practice, which is a meaningful step in the concussion protocol. It doesn’t guarantee he’ll clear everything in time for Sunday, but it makes his chances look a lot better than they did on Monday.
At safety, Jordan Battle appears headed for another start by default against Miami. Kyle Dugger still hasn’t practiced since getting hurt in Week 3, while Bryan Cook was at least limited Thursday, leaving the door open for a return.
Battle’s play remains a talking point, too, with some brushing off the criticism and others calling it overblown. Either way, the frustration is easy to understand: at this point, the issue is less about theory and more about wanting to see him finish a tackle on 3rd-&-very long instead of missing in a way that stands out for all the wrong reasons. He’d be a perfectly acceptable safety if he could clean up those missed tackles that have become too familiar.
Around the league, Jerry Jones was “extraordinarily disappointed” after the Cowboys’ loss to the Buccaneers. That result is exactly the kind of warning sign Cincinnati should heed. A prime-time stumble against a winless team is the last thing the Bengals need, so the focus should be on coming out fast Sunday and putting things away early.
Elsewhere, Marvin Harrison Jr. looks ready to bounce back against the Lions’ defense, which is dealing with problems at every level. And there’s also a real chance the Ravens are without Jackson, which would be a major test for the new coaching staff.
Baltimore has historically struggled without him, and that would create a big hurdle for any team missing its starting quarterback. It’s also a chance to see whether things can be different this time.
In Other News...
Bengals Get A Familiar Ref Crew For A Game That Could Turn Testy
Brad Rogers will be a familiar face for the Bengals when his crew handles their next game, adding another layer of intrigue to a matchup that already has the feel of one that could get chippy. Rogers is in his 10th season as an NFL referee and his eighth as a head referee, and Cincinnati has seen him plenty before, including his first game as a referee in 2019 and a meeting in Week 14 last season.
For the Bengals, the bigger issue is how this crew tends to operate. Rogers has built a reputation for letting more play go than some of his peers, which can shape the rhythm of a game as emotions rise and both sides push the line. He has not had a postseason assignment in the last two seasons, and his most recent playoff work came in an AFC Wild Card game in the 2023 season, leaving this crew with something to prove in a game that could demand tight control. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Face A Dangerous Early Test In Miami Despite Dolphins Record
The Bengals are heading into an early road test in Miami with the kind of record that can fool a casual glance. The Dolphins still have not won a game, but they have stayed competitive enough to make this one feel like more than a straightforward trip for Cincinnati, especially with both sides still sorting through the kind of early-season issues that can shape a September run.
For the Bengals, the attention is on how their offense and protection hold up against a Dolphins defense trying to find its footing under new coach Jeff Hafley, who is still chasing his first win. The matchup discussion also points to the individual battles up front, with Cincinnati measuring itself against a Miami group that has several players worth watching even without the benefit of a victory next to its name. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Be Getting A Timely Boost In Their Banged Up WR Room
The Bengals banged-up receiver room got a little encouraging news this week, as Colbie Young moved from a limited session on Wednesday to a full practice on Thursday. It was the latest sign that he is trending toward a return soon, and he even got work catching passes from Joe Burrow as he continued to progress.
Young said the injury looked worse at first than it ended up being after X-rays, a relief for a group that has needed bodies and options. He also said he tried to go back in against the Steelers before wide receivers coach Troy Walters kept him out, a small detail that underscored how close he may already be to rejoining the mix. [Read more 🡒]