With an old-school, run-heavy AFC North battle appearing to be on tap Sunday at Paycor Stadium, the Cincinnati Bengals will be getting help on both sides of the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Defensive end Sam Hubbard, one of the top edge defenders in the league against the run, will be back after missing two games with an ankle injury. And rookie running back Chase Brown is expected to see an increased role in the backfield alongside Joe Mixon after missing four games with a hamstring injury.
With Brown active, Chris Evans is the odd man out at running back and is inactive for the first time since Week 3.
The Bengals are expected to lean on the run game more than usual with quarterback Jake Browning making his first career start for the injured Joe Burrow, especially with Browning and the Bengals offense playing without wide receiver Tee Higgins, who will miss his third consecutive game with a hamstring injury.
Defensively, the Bengals will be without cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt due to a quad injury. But if ever there was a game where losing a starting defensive back would be less impactful, it’s this one against Kenny Pickett and Pittsburgh’s struggling offense.
The Steelers also will be without one of their top players in the secondary, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, due to a hamstring injury.
Bengals linebackers Germaine Pratt and Akeem Davis-Gaither both were questionable will illnesses, but both are active.
Who Are the Inactives for Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers?
Cincinnati Bengals
- WR Tee Higgins (hamstring)
- CB Cam Taylor-Britt (quad)
- OT D’Ante Smith (knee)
- RB Chris Evans
- OL Trey Hill
- DT Jay Tufele
Pittsburgh Steelers
- QB Mason Rudolph (3rd QB)
- RB Anthony McFarland Jr.
- S Minkah Fitzpatrick
- LB Blake Martinez
- OT Dylan Cook
- DT Montravius Adams
Bengals/Steelers Injury Report
Pittsburgh Steelers
Out
- DT Montravius Adams (ankle)
- S Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring)
Questionable
- CB James Pierre (shoulder)
MORE: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Predictions
Cincinnati Bengals
Out
- WR Tee Higgins (hamstring)
- CB Cam Taylor-Britt (quad)
Doubtful
- OT D’Ante Smith (knee)
Questionable
- LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (illness)
- LB Germaine Pratt (illness)
What Are the Starting Lineups for Each Team?
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Quarterback: Kenny Pickett
- Wide Receiver: George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Allen Robinson
- Running Back: Najee Harris
- Fullback: Connor Heyward
- Tight End: Pat Freiermuth
- Offensive Line (Left to Right): Dan Moore Jr., Isaac Seumalo, Mason Cole, James Daniels, Broderick Jones
- Defensive Line: Cameron Heyward, Keaanu Benton, Larry Ogunjobi
- Linebacker: T.J. Watt, Mykal Walker, Elandon Roberts, Alex Highsmith
- Defensive Backs: Joey Porter Jr., Patrick Peterson, Damontae Kazee, Miles Killebrew
Cincinnati Bengals
- Quarterback: Joe Burrow
- Wide Receiver: Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd, Trenton Irwin
- Running Back: Joe Mixon
- Tight End: Irv Smith Jr.
- Offensive Line (Left to Right): Orlando Brown Jr., Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, Jonah Williams
- Defensive Line: Trey Hendrickson, DJ Reader, B.J. Hill, Cam Sample
- Linebacker: Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt
- Defensive Backs: DJ Turner II, Chidobe Awuzie, Mike Hilton, Nick Scott, Dax Hill
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