The Cincinnati Bengals have seemingly battled injuries all year long. It seems like every week the defending AFC champions are losing someone important to injury.
Superstar wideout JaMarr Chase has recently missed time. And, key corner Chidobe Awuzie is on the IR after he tore his ACL in early November.
But, they’ve done a nice job weathering the storm on those injuries. Many teams who lose the Super Bowl don’t do well the next year. And, it looked like that could be happening to the Bengals after they started 0-2. But, they’ve gone 10-2 since as Burrow and company have steadied the ship. They have a one-game lead in the AFC North with three to play and have all but locked up a playoff spot. Cincy has an outside shot at the first-round bye and home-field advantage, too. Overall, quite the rebound season after losing the Super Bowl to the Rams.
But, they have received bad injury news at the wrong time.
Bengals Star defensive end Sam Hubbard is set to miss significant time
We are just a few weeks from the first playoff games, and health is paramount. So, Sam Hubbard being hurt is terrible news at the exact wrong time.
#Bengals DE Sam Hubbard is expected to miss a few weeks because of the left calf injury he suffered Sunday, per source. The hope is Hubbard – who has started every game and has 6½ sacks this season – can make it back for the playoffs.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 19, 2022
To compound this injury, the other top pass rusher on the team, Trey Hendrickson, is also hurt.
The wording of Tom Pelissero’s tweet is concerning, as well. You’d like the news to be better than “hopefully” back for the playoffs.
"Hope he can make it back for the playoffs" doesn't give me a lot of confidence man. Damn
— Nick (@NP171921) December 19, 2022
And, in a conference with Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, you better be able to rush the passer. It’s just another injury for the Bengals defense.
The amount of big injuries on our D this year is insane
— Kol (@UtdKol) December 19, 2022
They did beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 34-23, on Sunday. They travel to New England next Saturday.