The Cincinnati Bengals enter Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins with some serious uncertainty involving several key players. None of them are more key (keyer? Nah) than Ja'Marr Chase.
After suffering a concussion in Week 4's loss to the Jaguars, Chase practiced in full on Friday, which suggested he may be ready to suit up this Sunday. If it were up to me, I'd put Ja'Marr on ice through the Week 6 bye. It ain't up to me.
Thus, in this must-win scenario, and given that NFL players only get 17 regular-season opportunities to perform in a 365-day calendar year, I'm kicking off this week's inactives predictions by omitting Chase.
Bengals predicted Week 5 inactives list
- S Bryan Cook
- S Kyle Dugger
- TE Jack Endries
- WR Tee Higgins
- DT B.J. Hill
- OT Myles Hinton
- DT Landon Robinson
Typical inactive staples across the board for a lot of these. The coaching staff clearly sees something in Kris Jenkins Jr. that I don't. Otherwise, they would've let rookie defensive tackle Landon Robinson get some live reps in a game situation. I anticipate the wait on Robinson to continue.
Robinson's fellow seventh-round rookie, Jack Endries, might get the nod to be active depending on the health of the wide receivers. If I had to guess between Tee Higgins and Colbie Young, I'd say the latter will be more of a break glass in case of emergency guy behind Chase, Dohnte Meyers, and Mitchell Tinsley.
So yeah, since Tee Higgins is nursing an adductor injury and has a history of groin-related ailments, there's no need to press him into duty.
But yeah. Safety is still gonna be a problem. Kyle Dugger was ruled out already, and prized free agent Bryan Cook is still nursing an ankle injury that should keep him out for a second straight contest.
I'm thinking Cook is out in large part because Russ Yeast got elevated from the practice squad just like last week. That means a whole lotta Jordan Battle, and Yeast likely spelling PJ Jules at the other safety spot throughout Sunday's game.
Holding B.J. Hill out with his Achilles till after the bye makes a lot of sense to me. Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen can hold down the fort well enough at defensive tackle until then. Well, for the most part. Lawrence leaving the field has decidedly not been a good thing.
Finally, we have offensive tackle Myles Hinton. Until further notice, he'll be a weekly inactive since Javon Foster appears to have a firm grip on the swing tackle role.
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