Bengals Rule Out Offensive Starter vs. Steelers
The Cincinnati Bengals will be without starting running back Chase Brown when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.
PITTSBURGH — The Cincinnati Bengals ruled out starting running back Chase Brown ahead of their Week 18 meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Brown was listed as questionable entering the matchup after he had missed practice all week with an ankle injury. He suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Denver Broncos last week.
It’s an injury that usually takes multiple weeks to recover from, but Brown was determined to play in a must-win game for the Bengals to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. That’s not going to happen, however.
Brown tested his ankle pregame, which included doing some cutting drills, but not long after shook his head no and walked off the field, per NFL Network’s Bridget Condon.
It’s a big loss for the Bengals offense as Brown leads the team with 990 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground this season. He has also proven to be a reliable pass catcher with 54 catches for 360 yards and four touchdowns.
In Brown’s absence, Cincinnati will rely on backup running backs Khalil Herbert, Trayveon Williams and Kendall Minton.
That’s not great news as Herbert has only rushed for 45 yards since joining the Bengals in November. Williams and Minton have not registered a carry.
The Steelers will now need to focus even more on stopping Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and talented wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
In the Steelers and Bengals first meeting of the season in Week 13, Burrow threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Chase and Higgins combined for 11 catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
While the Steelers will have one less playmaker to worry about, that will still be no easy task.
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