:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67292936/usa_today_13472447.0.jpg)
Jordan Evans was carted out of Bengals practice on Monday, though the initial belief was the injury wasn’t too serious.
According to Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Tyler Dragon, Evans suffered a hamstring injury and is awaiting MRI results to learn how serious it is.
The initial diagnosis for #Bengals LB Jordan Evans is a hamstring injury, per a source. Evans is scheduled to have an MRI today. The Bengals linebacker was carted off the field during Monday's practice.
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) August 25, 2020
In addition, head coach Zac Taylor said today that Evans is considered week-to-week with the injury, so he may be in danger of missing Week 1 vs. the Chargers.
As for Shawn Williams, who was carted out of practice last week with a calf injury, he too is week-to-week.
Zac says Shawn Williams and Jordan Evans are week to week with calf and hamstring issues, respectively.
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) August 25, 2020
Evans is vying for a starting spot in the Bengals’ revamped linebacker group, which saw Nick Vigil, Hardy Nickerson and Preston Brown (cut in November) depart. Replacing them is a veteran in Josh Bynes, as well as rookie draft picks Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Markus Bailey.
With the Bengals primarily operating out of a nickel defense, Evans entered camp as a slight favorite to be the starting strongside linebacker. If he’s out, Bynes figures to be the next man up with second-year backer Germaine Pratt operating the middle linebacker spot.
As for Williams, he’s set to be used in a hybrid safety/linebacker role now that Vonn Bell has joined the secondary with Jessie Bates running the show at free safety. And with Clayton Fejedelem leaving this offseason, one or both of Bell/Williams figures to get a lot of those special teams snaps vacated by Fejedelem.
Hopefully, Williams and Evans are both back in time for Week 1 vs. the Chargers, which is now just 19 days away.