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The Bengals held their final pre-Broncos practice on Friday, a low-key walk through and as expected, after practice a ruling was made that Tyler Eifert is doubtful for the Week 3 matchup at Paul Brown Stadium. It's safe to say he won't play on Sunday.
"It won't be an iffy proposition. It will be very clear to me," Marvin Lewis said regarding whether Eifert will play via Bengals.com. "I don't know when he can go and feel good about it and that's when he'll play."
Per Geoff Hobson, Lewis said when Eifert returns, he "won't play a full game and is going to play a partial amount of snaps." That sounds similar to Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski's situation last night as he returned after not playing in Weeks 1 and 2 but was very limited in his snap count and didn't have a catch on the night.
The only two other players listed with injury designations by the Bengals are Darqueze Dennard and Eric Winston, both of whom are questionable to play. Dennard missed Week 1 before making his 2016 debut in Week 2 after a training camp ankle injury. But, Dennard had a hamstring tweak during the game and was limited on Wednesday before getting in a full practice on Thursday and Friday. I'd bet on him playing.
Winston didn't play in Week 2 but sometime between Friday of last week, the most recent time Winston fully practiced, and Wednesday of this week, he injured his back. Winston hasn't played a snap this season, but is the first player off the bench at right tackle and guard. He was limited on Friday after not practicing on Wednesday or Thursday.
For the Broncos, Virgil Green, Donald Stephenson and DeMarcus Ware were all ruled out. The trio are all starters so the Bengals should take advantage of their absences. Wide receiver Bennie Fowler, safety Justin Simmons and linebacker Dekoda Watson are all questionable. Fowler is the Broncos' No. 3 or 4 receiver, Watson is a 3rd string right linebacker and Simmons is the No. 2 free safety, so none of these injuries should majorly impact the Broncos' strength.
BENGALS |
INJURY | WED | THUR | FRI | STATUS |
TE Tyler Eifert | Ankle | LP | LP | LP | DOUBTFUL |
CB Dre Kirkpatrick | Hamstring | LP | FP | FP | -- |
CB Darqueze Dennard | Hamstring | LP | FP | FP | QUESTIONABLE |
WR James Wright | Knee | LP | DNP | FP | -- |
DT Pat Sims | Heel | LP | LP | FP | -- |
QB Andy Dalton | Hip | FP | FP | FP | -- |
OT Andrew Whitworth | Not Injury Related | DNP | -- | -- | -- |
WR A.J. Green | Not Injury Related | DNP | -- | -- | -- |
TE C.J. Uzomah | Ribs | DNP | FP | FP | -- |
OT Eric Winston | Back | DNP | DNP | LP | QUESTIONABLE |
BRONCOS |
INJURY | WED | THUR | FRI | STATUS |
TE Virgil Green | Calf | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
ILB Corey Nelson | Ankle | DNP | LP | LP | QUESTIONABLE |
OT Donald Stephenson | Calf | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
OLB DeMarcus Ware | Forearm | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
WR Bennie Fowler | Elbow | LP | LP | LP | QUESTIONABLE |
S Justin Simmons | Hand | LP | LP | LP | QUESTIONABLE |
OLB Dekoda Watson | Elbow | LP | LP | LP | QUESTIONABLE |
RB C.J. Anderson | Ribs | FP | FP | FP | -- |
C James Ferentz | Knee | FP | FP | FP | -- |
TE Jeff Heuerman | Ankle | FP | FP | FP | -- |
OL Ty Sambrailo | Elbow/Ankle | FP | FP | FP | -- |
WR Demaryius Thomas | Hip | FP | FP | FP | -- |
DE Billy Winn | Back | FP | FP | FP | -- |
DNP - Did Not Participate
LP - Limited Participation
FP - Full Participation
Game Status:
Out = Player will not play
Doubtful = 25% chance a player will play
Questionable = 50% or greater chance a player will play
(-) = Not Listed - No game status available
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