Bengals Injury Report: Week 17 versus Steelers (Wednesday)

Dec 22, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) sits on the bench after coming out of the game in the first half against the Denver Broncos at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Pittsburgh on Sunday night football this week.  The matchup will decide the winner of the AFC North and, for the Bengals, will decide whether they will become the AFC’s third seed or fifth seed.  As things stand now, if the Bengals win this Sunday (and assuming the Broncos win at home versus Oakland), then they’ll face the Steelers in Cincinnati on Wild Card weekend.  If the Bengals lose, then they’ll face the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Winning on Sunday would give the Bengals not just a home game on Wild Card weekend, but further confidence that they can win when in matters.  Health is paramount come playoff time, but this weekend’s game may as well be considered playoff football.  With that thought in mind, if players are healthy enough to suit up, doing so this weekend would be the time to sacrifice the body a bit.  Here’s the Bengals injury report heading into Week 17’s action.

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Practice Status

DNP = Did not participate in practice
LP = Limited Participation in Practice – Less than 100% of a player’s normal repetitions
FP = Full Participation – 100% of a player’s normal repetitions
Out = Player will not play
(-) = Not Listed = No practice status available

Game Status

Out = Player will not play
Doubtful = 25% chance a player will play
Questionable = 50% chance a player will play
Probable = 75% chance a player will play
(-) = Not Listed – No game status available

Despite ten players listed being listed on the Bengals injury report, the majority of today’s “no shows” were due to an apparent illness running through the Bengals.  It’s both an encouraging sign for the team’s playoff prognosis while also being somewhat troubling for this week’s matchup.

After strong performances from Reggie Nelson and Jermaine Gresham on Monday night, having them at less than 100% of Sunday night would be a strong blow to the Bengals.  Terence Newman seemed a step slow in coverage on Monday night, which was a rarity considering his largely strong performance this year.  But this inept performance could’ve been due to Newman being ill for the game.

As for Andy Dalton, I’m not sure anyone would blame his performance on an illness, but nonetheless, Dalton may have been feeling a little under the weather himself on Sunday.

Only three players this week did not practice due to injury: A.J. Green, Wallace Gilberry, and little known linebacker Chris Carter.   Not much has been made of Wallace Gilberry‘s injury, so it’s possible today could’ve been simply precaution for the defensive end.  A.J.Green’s injured bicep is the most significant concern of the week.  Green did express thinking he could play this week, but any version of him at less than 100% would give the Steelers a substantial advantage.