The Chicago Bears have all but given up on the season. However, the Bengals are going to emptying their bench as well.
We all remember the Pittsburgh Steelers-CincinnatI Bengals bloodbath on Monday Night Football. The game resulted in suspensions, season ending injuries, concussions and players being carted off. So while the Chicago Bears season is spiraling down the tube as fast as possible, somehow, the Bengals may be the team to keep them in a game.
Vontaze Burfict, Adam Jones, Dre Kirkpatrick, Shawn Williams, Joe Mixon, Nick Vigil, and Brandon Wilson are all out for this game. Burfict is well known and is the team’s starting linebacker and run stuffer in the middle. Jordan Evans, a sixth round rookie will have to fill in his place. This could really help Jordan Howard. Nick Vigil is his partner in the linebacker corps, and is more of the roamer who can play in space. However, he is out. Vincent Rey is the third linebacker, and in nickel sets, he would have stepped into Vigil’s spot. However, he is also questionable in this game. If he is out you could be looking at Evans and Hardy Nickerson, an undrafted free agent to compliment the sixth round rookie.
In the secondary, both outside cornerbacks are out. In the slot, Darqueze Dennard is questionable. Shawn Williams was out before the Steelers game, but that is their starting out another week. At cornerback they are going to be looking at the improving William Jackson, KeiVarae Russell and Josh Shaw will have to start at cornerback. Clayton Fejedelem will likely start at safety.
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Even Geno Atkins, the teams starting defensive tackle, and the biggest threat on the team and that side of the ball is questionable. This could be a defense with seven starters out of this game. The Bears are bad, and there is no doubt that they are just playing out the cards. However, if the offense sputters against this Bengals defense, it should be a little concerning.