Uncertainty Regarding Mohamed Sanu's Injury Shouldn't Present Anxiety

Mohamed Sanu may have an unknown injury at this point -- along with the severity of said injury -- all of which should promote clarity to anxious Bengals fans on Friday. Yet if this was bound to happen no matter what and Sanu requires extended time away, it couldn't have come at a better time.

Cincinnati's defense is playing their best ball all season, from the collective trio of Geno Atkins, Domata Peko and Pat Sims, to Rey Maualuga, finally gathering steam evident from head coach Marvin Lewis calling him out, throwing a "C" patch on his breast, plucking the transition chord prior to the song's main chorus. Leon Hall is no Johnathan Joseph, but neither are opposing receivers themselves when The Technician locks in. Adam Jones is peaking, with a certain aggressiveness that would make linebackers nod in approval.

Additionally the Bengals expect to get Andrew Hawkins back this Sunday, to go along with the recently rehabilitated Marvin Jones giving Cincinnati play-makers, complimenting a rushing offense that's generated over 400 yards in the past two games.

There's no disputing that unknowns regarding Thursday's practice could put Sanu in jeopardy against the Chargers, even for the season -- hence the unknowns and radical forecasting. Yet desperation hardly reverberates Cincinnati's chances this weekend or next.

Sanu was an unknown that suddenly went mini-me to A.J. Green unexpectedly; there's no reason Jones couldn't offer his own remedy of success. And there's nothing preventing Hawkins from finally exiting the midseason shell that's limited his role as a play-maker.

As long as this team has a healthy A.J. Green, everything poses a threat to San Diego's defense who views the other 10 Bengals on the field as secondary objectives. And that's just by having Cincinnati's biggest weapon on the field.