CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals are coping with long- and short-term accidents at cornerback heading into Sunday’s sport towards the Carolina Panthers.
Beginning outdoors cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is out for the 12 months with a torn ACL, the group confirmed earlier this week. Mike Hilton, Cincinnati’s high inside cornerback, will likely be out for this weekend’s sport with a finger harm.
Hilton’s left pinky finger was bandaged all week as he did not apply following Monday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals (4-4) should navigate these points beginning this Sunday towards the Panthers (2-6).
“The harm bug at nook is just not an issue simply with us,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor stated after Friday’s apply. “We see that throughout the league and it is simply a part of what you need to regulate to and be able to have guys step up.”
The harm to Awuzie is the primary season-ending harm to considered one of Cincinnati’s starters this season. Awuzie went down within the second quarter of the group’s 32-13 loss to the Browns. He stated the torn ACL was a non-contact harm.
“After I bought again to the sideline I used to be pondering it may be one thing minor,” Awuzie stated Thursday. “Then they advised me what they advised me.”
Awuzie has been the group’s high beginning cornerback since he signed with the group in free company in 2021. He was fourth within the NFL amongst qualifying cornerbacks in completion proportion underneath expectation as the closest defender in protection this season, in keeping with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats.
“My entire aim was to strive to try this once more and attempt to take it to a brand new degree,” Awuzie stated. “This 12 months, I simply felt like I used to be actually strong.”
Awuzie anticipates having surgical procedure within the subsequent couple of weeks to restore the structural harm inside the proper knee. He stated that the swelling should subside earlier than the process can happen. Regardless of being injured, Awuzie stated he desires to proceed to look at movie and take part in conferences to assist facilitate the expansion of the protection and the group’s different cornerbacks.
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo stated Awuzie’s mentality regardless of the season-ending harm is unusual.
“It tells you who he’s as a person,” Anarumo stated earlier this week. “That is what’s most necessary to me. Irreplaceable on the sphere and irreplaceable within the locker room. That is simply who he’s.”
Along with Awuzie’s loss, the Bengals should change Hilton for a minimum of one week. Taylor indicated that Hilton’s standing will likely be reevaluated after Week 10, when the group will likely be off.
Jalen Davis is anticipated to begin instead of Hilton. Rookie Cam Taylor-Britt is anticipated to begin at outdoors cornerback alongside Eli Apple, who was benched in favor of Taylor-Britt in Week 7 and missed Week 8 with a hamstring harm. Taylor stated he is excited for Apple’s return.
“Eli is a veteran,” Taylor stated Friday. “He is bought a fantastic relationship with the blokes within the locker room. He is bought a fantastic relationship with our coaches. I actually like working with him.”
