Cincinnati Bengals News

Bengals vs. Lions injury report: Joe Mixon, D’Ante Smith and Jamaal Williams sit out

Will Joe Mixon play? And who will start at right guard for the Bengals?

By Jason Marcum@marcum89 Oct 14, 2021, 4:12pm EDT

NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals

As the Cincinnati Bengals prepare for the Detroit Lions, who starts at right guard has become one of the biggest question marks for Week 6.

With Jackson Carman currently on the NFL’s COVID-19 list, it appears he won’t be playing this week. If Carman were to be out, fellow rookie D’Ante Smith figures to start in his place.

Smith was limited Wednesday due to a knee injury, which offensive coordinator Brian Callahan brushed off as nothing significant.

Brian Callahan said guard D’Ante Smith just tweaked his knee yesterday and missed a play or two, and he should be fine.

“He has been great so far in his scout team work this season.”
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) October 14, 2021

However, Smith did not practice today, so his status for Sunday is very much in doubt. If he’s out, it could be rookie center Trey Hill who starts at right guard. Hill has experience at center and guard from his college career at Georgia but has yet to play an offensive snap this season (has 13 snaps on special teams).

Joe Mixon did not practice today after going limited Wednesday, though it sounds like this could be more precautionary resting the ankle injury vs. Mixon being too injured to practice.

Bengals could simply be giving Joe Mixon more time to rest that ankle. Zac Taylor, yesterday: "He had good energy [on Wed.] and seems to be moving around pretty good.”
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 14, 2021

Last week, Mixon didn’t practice Wednesday - Friday but worked out on Saturday and gave the Bengals enough confidence to start him vs. Green Bay, though he was limited to just 11 touches and clearly wasn’t 100%.

For the Lions, most of their current 53-man roster should be healthy enough to play Sunday. The biggest concern is with Jamaal Williams (hip/illness), who didn’t practice today after being limited Wednesday. Williams may be the backup running back, but he gets about 15 touches a game when healthy and is a nice dual-threat option.

Starters Trey Flowers (knee), Amani Oruwariye (hip) and T.J. Hockenson (knee) were limited today after taking Wednesday off. Flowers and Hockenson were both limited last week but went on to play vs. Minnesota.