The Cincinnati Bengals continue their drive toward perfect attendance, with 52 of the active 53 practicing again today, but rookie running back Chase Brown showed up with the dreaded Thursday limited after suffering a hamstring injury.
He hasn’t been used much through the first six games, but earlier today offensive coordinator Brian Callahan was talking about looking forward to getting Brown more touches.
Backup linebacker and special-teamer Akeem Davis-Gaither is the only player not participating, working instead off the side field with director of rehab Nick Cosgray for the second day in a row.
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Who Won’t Be Available for the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday?
Davis-Gaither suffered a knee injury in practice on Sept. 22. He played through the injury three days later in the Monday night win against the Rams but has not played or practiced since.
Everyone except for Akeem Davis-Gaither present again today. pic.twitter.com/RzXRm5rJFZ
— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) October 26, 2023
Davis-Gaither is expected to miss his fourth consecutive game on Sunday when the Bengals travel to San Francisco.
Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was the only other player who was not a full participant Wednesday, going limited as he works his way back from the groin injury that forced him to leave the Oct. 15 win against the Seahawks.
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Both Brown and head coach Zac Taylor sound optimistic about his chances of playing against Nick Bosa and the San Francisco 49ers.
“I feel great with the extra week of rest,” Brown said Monday after sitting out the team’s hour-long walk-through practice.
“He’s probably progressing better than we thought he would last week,” Taylor said.
If Brown should be unable to go, or if he were to re-aggravate the injury again Sunday, it would be his former University of Oklahoma teammate Cody Ford taking over for him. Ford came in for Brown late in the third quarter against the Seahawks, marking the first time he has played left tackle since high school.
Two other players were listed with injury designations but went full for the second day in a row — backup defensive tackle Josh Tupou (toe) and backup linebacker Devin Harper (hamstring).
For the 49ers, quarterback Brock Purdy returned to practice from concussion protocol, but his availability for Sunday’s game is still in question.
#49ers QB Brock Purdy (concussion) is present and participating during early open portion of practice. pic.twitter.com/xnWZNAHIRc
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 26, 2023
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