Trae Waynes’ return could be huge

After getting carved up by Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers, the Bengals now face Kyle Shanahan and a San Francisco 49ers offense that is on a roll.

San Francisco features a rookie running back, Elijah Mitchell, who is playing at a very high level; he already has four 100-yard rushing games despite only getting 20 carries three times all season. Meanwhile, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been as efficient as it gets since the 49ers’ bye week:

And, of course, the Bengals have not had a lot of success against Shanahan, as John Sheeran points out in the video below. In Zac Taylor’s second game as head coach, Cincinnati was outrushed by 234 yards, and Garoppolo completed 17 of 25 passes, including three touchdowns, en route to a 41-17 thumping at the hands of the 49ers.

Further, it was a Shanahan disciple, Mike LaFleur, who, as the offensive coordinator of the New York Jets, oversaw a gameplan that picked apart Cincinnati’s defense in an upset win.

Fortunately, the Bengals’ defense looks to be getting some help this week. The second biggest signing of the 2020 offseason, cornerback Trae Waynes, could be ready to play on Sunday after successful recovery from a hamstring injury back in October.

Waynes could very well be what Cincinnati needs to slow down San Francisco’s rushing attack, as the corner is one of the best at his position against the run:

The rest of the defense will have to step up as well, as Logan Wilson is out for a while, and the Bengals are coming off a game in which they allowed far too many big plays. We preview the matchup between the Bengals and 49ers in the video below:

You can also listen on iTunes or using the player below: