Bengals Get Updates On Cam Taylor-Britt And Ja’Marr Chase
Injured Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) walks to the locker room at halftime of the NFL 16 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Steelers led 24-0 at halftime.
A struggling Bengals pass defense may get a major boost this coming weekend.
#Bengals announce that CB Cam Taylor-Britt has been designated to return from the IR. 💪🏿 #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/MhP6bVt2yU
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) December 27, 2023
Cam Taylor-Britt, who leads the Bengals’ in interceptions in 2023 despite missing five games, has been activated from IR and will likely be suiting up against the Chiefs this Sunday. He will provide a major boost to a Cincinnati Bengals pass defense that has given up 256.1 pass yards per game, which is 5th worst in the NFL.
Britt suffered an ankle injury in an early December practice and has been on IR ever since. However, his window to return opened yesterday, and he was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.
The 2nd round pick from Nebraska has been one of the more consistent pass defenders for a struggling Bengals’ secondary all season, as he’s been able to shut down some of the NFL’s best.
Cam Taylor-Britt had DK Metcalf locked up so bad that he threw a tantrum 😭😭😭#ProBowlVote Cam Taylor-Britt pic.twitter.com/KIZfFn1Mgo
— The Nati King (@thenatiking) December 26, 2023
His return comes one week after the Bengals lost one of the cornerstones of their defense, DJ Reader, for the year due to a torn quad.
More uncertainty surrounds Ja’Marr Chase, who is still dealing with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder that he suffered against Minnesota. He was not in uniform for Wednesday’s practice, but he was still able to get some work in on the practice field.
Ja’Marr Chase isn’t dressed for practice, but he’s going to get some work in on the rehab field. Good sign for the Bengals’ star receiver ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/9FHK8dub0a
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) December 27, 2023
Zac Taylor has said that Chase is making progress with his rehab, but his status for the Bengals’ matchup with Kansas City on New Year’s Eve is still up in the air.
Chase missed his first game of the year last week against the Steelers. With him absent, Jake Browning still managed to throw for 335 yards, and Tee Higgins was able to have his most receiving yards since Week 11 of 2022, which coincidentally was the last time the Bengals played in Pittsburgh.
Even with the production, Browning had the worst start of his career. He had the lowest passer rating of his career (69.0), and he threw three brutal interceptions, two of which were in the Steelers’ red zone.
Chase leads the Bengals in every receiving category; he tops the Bengals’ stat chart in receptions (93), targets (132), yards (1,156), yards after the catch (521), and touchdowns (7).
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