Jeremy Hill should practice this week after leaving Cowboys game with injury

It looks like Bengals running back Jeremy Hill will not miss any time due to injury.

Hill exited Sunday’s loss in Dallas with a shoulder injury, which helped limit him to just four carries in the game. On Monday, head coach Marvin Lewis said that Hill avoided a serious injury and is expected to practice on Wednesday.

The injury occurred in the second half and knocked him out of the game. Hill also appeared on the injury report all week and was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a chest injury, which is originally what his injury on Sunday was referred to as.

It looks like Hill re-aggravate the previous injury or this is an extension of that one.

The injury on Sunday came on a run in which Hill appeared to land on the ball awkwardly while being tackled. He then went to the sideline favoring his arm and shoulder. It was announced as a chest injury and the Bengals ruled him questionable to return.

Hill never did return, but that was in part because the Bengals were down 28-0 and were forced to pass the rest of the way. Hill is a decent pass-blocking back, but the Bengals offense needed more firepower with Giovani Bernard coming out of the backfield instead.

Third-string running back Rex Burkhead, who is also a better pass-catcher than Hill, saw a few snaps as well. The combination of Bernard and Burkhead would be an effective one if the Bengals did not have Hill, but it does not appear that will be an issue this week.

Bernard was the back who actually started in this game, which marked the first time he got that nod over Hill since Week 15 of the 2015 season and just the second time that’s occurred since Week 15 of 2014.

In five games this season, Hill has only 233 rushing yards on 62 carries (3.8 avg) with three scores, but has failed to reach the end zone in three of five games. He also has just three catches for 37 yards, all of which came in Week 2.

If this injury so much as has Hill limited in practice this week, the Bengals will need to seriously consider signing another running back to the 53-man roster. They have only three right now: Hill, Bernard and Burkhead.

However, Tra Carson is practicing with the team as a member of the practice squad. He could get called up this week just to make sure the Bengals have another running back just in case Hill (or another back) gets banged up again in New England.