Giovani Bernard does not have serious injury?

Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard left yesterday’s impressive 27-24 victory over the rival Baltimore Ravens with a hip injury in the fourth quarter, and he was ruled questionable to return but did not get back into the action. Bernard’s injury didn’t seem overly serious at the time, though there were still worries given the importance Bernard holds to the Bengals, especially with A.J. Green not a guarantee to return next week.

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The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that he doesn’t get the “sense” that Bernard’s hip injury is a serious issue, and this is obviously fantastic news. It means that, barring anything unexpected, Bernard is on track to play this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Green is set to make his return this week (he’s 70-30 to play).

Bernard is averaging 4.1 yards per carry this season after putting up 4.1 yards per pop last year, and he also has 22 receptions after hauling in an impressive 56 as a rookie. With over 100 carries this season, Bernard is on pace for around 300 total touches, which is right in line with what a young all-purpose back should be getting. The Bengals haven’t run the ball as often as expected under Hue Jackson, but Bernard is still one of the team’s most important players on either side of the ball, largely due to his elusiveness in the passing game and ability to eat up carries.

If Bernard does end up missing time, then the Bengals would be safe hands with impressive, hard-nosed rookie rusher Jeremy Hill.