Bengals’ Joe Mixon will not play vs. Titans on account of concussion

CINCINNATI — Bengals working again Joe Mixon is not going to play on Sunday in opposition to the Tennessee Titans after not being cleared from concussion protocols, coach Zac Taylor mentioned Friday.

“We’ll be capable to defend him for an additional week with that concussion,” Taylor advised reporters.

Mixon, who didn’t apply this week, left final Sunday’s win in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers within the first half and didn’t return. He’s not anticipated to journey with the staff this weekend.

Bengals huge receiver Ja’Marr Chase is questionable for Sunday’s sport after lacking the final three video games with a hip damage. Whereas quarterback Joe Burrow on Wednesday mentioned the staff expects Chase to play, Taylor was coy about Chase’s standing on Friday, saying that Chase regarded good as he returned to apply this week.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on Wednesday mentioned the staff expects Chase to play in opposition to the Titans.

This would be the first sport Mixon has missed due to damage since 2020. In 10 video games this season, Mixon has 605 speeding yards and 6 touchdowns. The sixth-year working again has additionally been a key asset within the passing sport. He has already matched final yr’s whole of 314 receiving yards, which is a profession excessive, regardless of enjoying in six fewer video games.

With Mixon out, Samaje Perine is anticipated to get the majority of the offensive snaps. Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans, who was out final week with a knee damage, is on monitor to play Sunday.

Perine is coming off a profession sport during which he caught three touchdowns passes — a franchise report for a working again — in opposition to Pittsburgh.

“It ain’t obtained nothing to do with this sport,” Perine advised ESPN on Friday. “You simply gotta are available each week, week in and week out, and be ready to play.”

Perine and Mixon have benefited from a Cincinnati run scheme that has leaned closely on gap-based runs in latest weeks.

“I do not know if we’re getting extra motion or what,” Perine mentioned. “However as an offense typically, once you transfer to gap-scheme kind of stuff, it is labored for us I feel extra so as a result of (of how our offensive) line works. They love downhill working.”

Cincinnati (6-4) goes up in opposition to a Tennessee protection that is likely one of the greatest at stopping the run. The Titans (7-3) are second within the league in speeding yards allowed per sport and have defensive deal with Jeffery Simmons, who has earned reward from Bengals gamers and coaches main as much as Sunday’s sport.

Taylor mentioned Cincinnati’s strategy will stay fixed regardless of Mixon’s absence.

“We’re nonetheless gonna play the type of ball that we expect is greatest to play on this sport,” Taylor mentioned.