Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The Cincinnati Bengals are still the top team in the AFC North, but they need to have a nice bounce-back game if they want to beat the surprise Cleveland Browns tomorrow afternoon. Division games are always tougher due to the physical nature of the games and the fact that both teams know each other better, so upsets are also more frequent; especially in the AFC North. The Bengals took last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens into overtime, but they were extremely lucky it got to that point with the way Andy Dalton played. Meanwhile, the Browns are coming off of a bye week after new starter Jason Campbell dismantled the Ravens the week before, and this has the makings of another close one. Below are the injury reports for both teams.
Cincinnati Bengals
Out
G Kevin Zeitler (foot)
DT Devon Still (elbow)
Doubtful
LB Rey Maualuga (knee)- He was always expected to miss this week’s game and rest through the bye week.
S Chris Crocker (hamstring)
Questionable
LB James Harrison (calf)
Probable
TE Jermaine Gresham (groin)- He practiced fully all week after missing last week’s game, and Gresham could have played last week. However, the Bengals decided to play it extremely cautious with Gresham’s groin injury, so they held him out against Baltimore.
LB Vontaze Burficit (knee)
C Kyle Cook (shoulder)
DT Brandon Thompson (ankle)
LB Michael Boley (hamstring)
CB Terence Newman (ankle)
Cleveland Browns
Out
TE MarQueis Gray (hamstring)
Questionable
G Jason Pinkston (ankle)- He was activated from the short-term I.R. ahead of the bye week and will immediately be an upgrade as the Browns starting right guard.
Probable
RB Chris Ogbonnaya (ribs)- This rib injury has hampered Ogbonnaya a bit, but he looks healthy enough to receive the majority of the Browns carries (he practiced fully this week).
QB Jason Campbell (ribs)- He practiced fully all week, won’t wear protective padding, and declared himself fully healthy. Campbell is at about 100%, as the bruised rib injury was painful in Week 9 but didn’t cost him any practice time and he was excellent during the game. With a bye week to rest, Campbell’s injury is a non-issue.
RB Willis McGahee (knee)- He’s practiced full all week and is a 100% go, but hopefully he also lost his starting job to Ogbonnaya.
LB Paul Kruger (finger)
CB Christopher Owens (finger)
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