The Bengals will go into today’s matchup with Jacksonville short on bodies in the secondary, and the biggest absence is starting safety Bryan Cook.
Cook was hurt in last week’s 30-27 loss at Pittsburgh, leaving the game with an ankle injury before Kyle Dugger stepped in. Then Dugger went down with a quadriceps injury, which pushed Cook back onto the field. Cook was limited in all three practices this week and entered the day listed as questionable, but he will not play.
Dugger won’t be available either. He was ruled out Friday, and that leaves Cincinnati thin at safety with Jordan Battle already working through a hamstring issue. Battle was limited Wednesday and Thursday before being a full participant Friday.
That creates a real question about who lines up next to Battle. The options appear to be P.J.
Jules, who has eight career defensive snaps, or Russ Yeast, who was elevated from the practice squad Saturday. Another possibility is Dax Hill.
The Bengals had originally planned to use Hill in the slot with Jalen Davis on Injured Reserve because of a hamstring injury, but the staff could shift Hill to safety instead. If that happens, either Josh Newton or Bralyn Lux, who was also called up from the practice squad Saturday, would be in line to start at nickel corner.
Cincinnati also has a rookie worth watching on game day: center Connor Lew is active for the first time this season and could make his NFL debut on special teams.
The Bengals are also missing several other players, including linebacker Swayze Bozeman (groin), wide receiver Colbie Young (knee), defensive tackle B.J. Hill (Achilles), defensive tackle Landon Robinson and tackle Myles Hinton.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, has its own list of inactives, with starting cornerback Montaric Brown, wide receiver CJ Williams, cornerback Christian Braswell, safety Jalen Huskey, linebacker Jack Kiser, OL Daniel Faalele and defensive end Wesley Williams all out.
Asked about the Jaguars earlier this week, Joe Burrow made clear Cincinnati expects a challenge.
"Yeah, they're deep. They're deep," Joe Burrow said about Jacksonville this week.
"Their two edge rushers are really good ... All those guys can play really good football.
Get pressure on quarterbacks to stop the run. Play with high motors.
Care about it. And then the rest of their defense plays their roles really well.
Understands what they're trying to do with their coverages, and I think they're really good in man coverage. I think they trust their guys on the outside, as do we.
So, we'll see what their plan is early, and we'll have to be ready to adapt to whatever they're showing."
In Other News...
Bengals Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem Than Just One Bad Night
The Bengals Week 4 loss to Jacksonville was more than a frustrating 22-17 finish, because it also forced a hard look at how much of the roster held up when the game tightened. Cincinnati still got encouraging work from Dohnte Meyers and Tee Higgins, but the night turned choppy quickly after JaMarr Chase left for a concussion evaluation, and the offense never really settled into a rhythm from there.
What made the result sting was how many layers of the operation looked off at once. Jordan Battle and Dylan Fairchild drew criticism for their play, Zac Taylors offensive adjustments did not seem to solve the Jaguars pressure points, and Joe Burrows decision-making under pressure came under the microscope again, leaving the Bengals with a familiar but troubling question about whether this was just a bad night or something deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Tee Higgins Injury Leaves Bengals Facing One Big Offensive Concern
Tee Higgins night against the Jaguars ended with a late adductor injury, and it left the Bengals with one of the more immediate questions they can face this early in the week. Higgins tried to come back after leaving the game, but he was unable to continue, and Cincinnati still has not offered any recovery timeline as the team awaits further evaluation.
For a passing game that leans heavily on Higgins as one of its top targets, the timing matters as much as the injury itself. The Bengals now have to sort through what comes next without knowing how long they may be without him, and that uncertainty adds another layer to an offense already trying to keep its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Face A Ja'Marr Chase Scare They Can't Afford
JaMarr Chases afternoon against Jacksonville took an unwelcome turn when a facemask hit led to a head injury and a concussion evaluation, forcing the Bengals star receiver out of the game for a stretch. For a Cincinnati offense that leans heavily on Chase to set the tone, any pause in his availability immediately changes the feel of the sideline and the play-calling.
Zac Taylor also pointed to the broader reality the Bengals are dealing with, noting the strain of injuries across the receiver room with Chase among the players affected. Even when Chase is only listed as questionable to return, the ripple effect is clear for a team that cannot afford to lose more firepower while trying to stay on schedule offensively. [Read more 🡒]