Bengals Injury Report: Week 17 versus Steelers (Final)
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
Wrapping up the week is the final Bengals injury report.
Encouragingly A.J. Green has been listed as probable for this week’s matchup. The Bengals will need Green out there to at least spread the Steelers’ defense and allow others to enjoy 1:1 matchups. Wallace Gilberry joins Green in being listed as probable. He played a huge role in last week’s game by pressuring Peyton Manning relentlessly. A similar performance this week would really give the Bengals an advantage.
Illness has clearly struck the Bengals at the wrong time. Eight players have caught the “bug” and there’s no guarantee the virus will end after this weekend. The illness will undoubtedly effect the fitness of several players this week and maybe during the team’s assumed Wild Card game.
Specifically this week, both Andy Dalton and Jermaine Gresham seem to be ready to go, but nearly the entirety of the secondary will likely be less than 100% Sunday. Adam Jones, Terence Newman, and Reggie Nelson all have contracted this illness. This could mean the Steelers’ receivers may be a step quicker than their defender. If this is the case, the Bengals are going to have to rely heavily on Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard as Ben Roethlisberger will target these weakened veterans.