The Bengals are staring at a Titans team that keeps losing pieces by the day.
Tennessee went into Week 8 already short on credibility as a road opponent, and the situation got uglier after the club traded away star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons just days before kickoff. As the game at Paycor Stadium approaches, the injury picture has only made the matchup look more tilted.
The biggest hit on offense is the absence of first-round wideout Carnell Tate, who is out along with RB Tyjae Spears and punter Tommy Townsend. That leaves Cam Ward with even less help around him, and it strips Tennessee of another weapon in a passing game already facing a tough assignment.
That also changes the feel of the receiver matchup on Sunday. With Tate sidelined, the main name for Bengals cornerback DJ Turner to deal with is Elic Ayomanor, with Calvin Ridley questionable because of a hip injury. The hoped-for Ohio State-Michigan angle between Tate and Turner won’t happen.
Tennessee’s backfield depth is also taking a hit. With Tony Pollard the subject of trade speculation - including maybe to the Bengals - the Titans won’t even have Tyjae Spears available to spell him.
There’s more uncertainty on the line, too, with John Franklin-Myers listed as questionable. That’s another warning light for a team already headed into the week at 1-6.
On Cincinnati’s side, the picture is much cleaner. The Bengals had the luxury of resting many of their key players, with the only notable concern at safety because of Kyle Dugger’s quad issue and Jordan Battle’s hamstring.
The spread the source saw at 11.5 points already felt aggressive, and with this many Tennessee absences stacked on top of Simmons being dealt away, the gap only looks wider. The Titans did stay competitive in a three-point loss to the AFC North-leading Browns in Week 7 and beat the opponent before that, but this is still a struggling team that got noticeably weaker right before facing Cincinnati.
In Other News...
Bengals May Already Have A First Round Edge Rush Problem
The Bengals pass-rush rotation took an interesting turn in their 35-13 win over Baltimore, and it started with a surprising decision before kickoff. Cincinnati left 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart inactive as a healthy scratch, while rookie second-rounder Cashius Howell saw a much larger role and made the most of it with his first career sack.
It was another sign that the Bengals are leaning harder on Howell and former sixth-round pick Cedric Johnson than on Stewart right now, which is not what anyone expected when the season began. With the trade deadline drawing closer, Stewarts situation is drawing attention around the league, and the way Cincinnati handles the edge group from here could say plenty about where he fits in the long term. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Running Back Search Just Got Much Tougher Than Fans Hoped
The market for running backs just got a lot trickier, and that matters in Cincinnati because the Bengals have been looking at ways to bolster that spot without blowing up their draft capital. Jonathan Taylor remains the biggest name in the discussion, but the Colts have reportedly already turned down an offer that included multiple picks, a sign that any team trying to pry him loose is going to have to pay a premium.
For the Bengals, that price tag makes Taylor feel more like a wish list item than a realistic target. Other clubs are still in the mix, which only adds to the competition, while Cincinnati may have to pivot toward a cheaper option if it wants to make a move at all. Tony Pollard has emerged as the kind of trade target that could fit the cost-conscious approach, but the bigger question is whether the Bengals can find enough value in a market that is getting expensive fast. [Read more 🡒]
Zac Taylor Had The Perfect Reaction To A Trade Bengals Fans Loved
Press Taylor got a phone call from his brother this week, and it was a pretty familiar one for the Bengals coach. Zac Taylor had seen the Bears land Jeffery Simmons from Tennessee, and he wanted to talk it through with the Chicago offensive coordinator, with both brothers taking a lighthearted view of what the move could mean for their teams. For Chicago, the deal is about beefing up a defense that needed more juice up front, especially in the pass rush.
From Cincinnatis side, there is a little bit of self-interest in the reaction too. Any time a contender loses a disruptive defender before a matchup, it changes the conversation on the other sideline, and the Bengals are watching that part closely as their own game approaches. The family connection made the exchange even more amusing, with both coaches treating the trade as one of those rare NFL moments that can help one team while making life a little easier for another. [Read more 🡒]