The final injury report ahead of Titans-Bengals is out. Here’s where the two teams stand heading into the weekend…
Titans
Player | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Status |
OLB Jadeveon Clowney (Knee) | DNP | DNP | Full | — |
S Dane Cruikshank (Groin) | DNP | Limited | DNP | OUT |
CB Kristian Fulton (Knee) | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
CB Johnathan Joseph (Knee) | DNP | DNP | Full | — |
OT Dennis Kelly (Knee) | DNP | DNP | Full | — |
DT Jeffery Simmons (Not Injury Related) | DNP | Full | Full | — |
CB Tye Smith (Shoulder) | DNP | Limited | DNP | QUESTIONABLE |
OL Daniel Munyer (Hand) | Limited | DNP | DNP | QUESTIONABLE |
WR A.J. Brown (Knee) | — | DNP | Full | — |
THOUGHTS
As expected, the key players who missed practice this week all returned for full participation on Friday. The Titans are dealing with only a handful of legitimate injuries.
After making his season debut last weekend, special teams ace (and interceptor of passes on 100% of defensive snaps this season) Dane Cruikshank will be out Sunday, as will rookie corner Kristian Fulton, who is expected to miss a few weeks with a knee injury.
Backup corner Tye Smith — who started last week’s game and played 23 snaps on defense — is questionable with a shoulder injury, as is backup center Daniel Munyer. Neither player will have a major impact on the game either way. Smith was frequently beat trying to cover Diontae Johnson. I’d expect we see a good bit of Johnathan Joseph, Chris Jackson and Kareem Orr on the field next to Malcolm Butler in this contest.
The hopes of Adoree Jackson returning this weekend are fading quickly into the night, as the stud corner did not practice on Friday. That’s likely not a good sign for his availability against Cincinnati.
Bengals
Player | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Status |
DT Geno Atkins (Not Injury Related) | DNP | Limited | Full | — |
DT Mike Daniels (Not Injury Related) | DNP | Limited | Full | — |
OT Bobby Hart (Knee) | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
C Trey Hopkins (Concussion) | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
RB Joe Mixon (Foot) | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
CB Darius Phillips (Knee) | DNP | DNP | Limited | QUESTIONABLE |
OT Jonah Williams (Stinger) | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
S Brandon Wilson (Knee) | DNP | Limited | Full | — |
LB Marcus Bailey (Neck) | Limited | Full | Full | — |
TE Cethan Carter (Shoulder) | Limited | Full | Full | — |
WR A.J. Green (Not Injury Related) | Limited | Full | Full | — |
CB William Jackson (Concussion) | Limited | Full | Full | — |
OG Michael Jordan (Back) | Limited | Full | Full | — |
WR John Ross (Illness) | Full | DNP | DNP | DOUBTFUL |
THOUGHTS
It was expected all week, but on Friday Jonah Williams and Trey Hopkins joined Bobby Hart in being formally ruled out for Sunday. Running back Joe Mixon will also miss the game.
The Bengals will be without three starters on the offensive line, while the Titans will be down two or three players in the secondary. That should make for an intriguing give-and-take between the Titans’ pass rush and pass coverage.
