Bengals lose Kevin Minter to significant elbow injury vs Steelers

The Cincinnati Bengals are bracing for what looks like a serious injury to Kevin Minter.

During the team’s Week 7 clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the starting middle Minter was lost to an injury late in the second quarter. Minter got up gimpy following a play, went to the sideline to be examined, then was diagnosed with a right elbow injury and declared out not long after the injury occurred.

That’s a very bad sign that this injury is serious and could sideline him for multiple weeks. if that’s the case, the Bengals will be relying heavily on Vincent Rey and Nick Vigil to help pick up the slack.

Minter had been starting at middle linebacker, but because the Bengals operate heavily out of the nickel defense, Minter doesn’t get a lot of snaps per game while Vontaze Burfict and either Rey or Vigil get reps at the other linebacker spot.

Even so, Minter has been very solid this season in the snaps he’s gotten, especially when his workload was bigger over the first three games while Vontaze Burfict was suspended.

We’ll keep you posted as more details become available.