Bengals vs. Steelers inactives: Auden Tate is active

The Bengals are trying to avoid having the worst start in team history all to themselves by getting a win against the Steelers.

Here’s who Cincinnati’s will be attempting to accomplish that without today:

• WR A.J. Green
• TE Drew Sample
• OT Andre Smith
• OL Fred Johnson
• QB Jake Dolegala
• CB Torry McTyer
• DE Anthony Zettel

Green is the least surprising. We are to the point where it will probably be more surprising to see him take the field. Stanley Morgand and Auden Tate both had their availability questioned coming into the week. Morgan missed the entire week with an illness, and Tate passed through the concussion protocol on Friday after a scary injury during last Sunday’s game. Both being active for today seemed like a long shot, especially for Tate.

Tate playing this week is a good sign that the it he took was a case of worse than it looked. It is never good to watch any player taken off the field like that. It is just good to see him back out there. Rookie quarterback Ryan Finley will love having him out there again as the two clearly have a connection that dates back to getting plenty of reps together during training camp.

The biggest story may be Cordy Glenn being active for the first time all season. He suffered a concussion in the preseason that lasted longer than many expected. Then there was apparently some drama between Glenn and the team right when he was cleared to practice where he felt that he was being pressured to return before he was ready. There is no question the offensive line is in slightly better shape with him at left tackle. That is especially true after John Jerry got worked by the Raiders last week.

Here are the inactives for the Steelers:

• WR Juju Smith-Schuster
• RB James Conner
• OT Chukwuma Okorafor
• QB Paxton Lynch
• TE Zach Gentry
• CB Artie Burns
• LB Tuzar Skipper

The Steelers offense took a few major hits when Smith-Schuster and Conner going down on Thursday Night Football this past week. Neither was able to get a practice under them this week, and it was decided on Friday that neither player would go. Pittsburgh also being without suspended offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey has Pittsburgh limping into the matchup.

Burns was also doubtful coming into the game. He was working through a knee injury that had him limited all week up until Friday where he was a full participant in practice. The Doubtful tag seemed to decide his fate though. That leaves the Steelers’ formidable defense largely intact for Finley to face today.