Cameron Sample appears to have minor shoulder injury

Cam Sample is no stranger to adversity.

“It’s football,” Sample said in a recent news conference with Bengals.com. “Adversity happens. I mean, in game, off the field, you just gotta kinda roll with the punches.”

Sample’s name popped up on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list on July 25th, and he was not cleared to practice until August 2nd. He fought his way back in time to be ready for the preseason opener in Tampa Bay on August 14th.

Despite the rust, Sample played most of the game against the Buccaneers, seeing action on 49 of the defense’s 62 plays. He finished with a sack and a pair of QB hits and reminded everyone why he was one of three fourth-round selections for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Sample got off to a good start Friday night in Washington, as he put together two solo tackles and two assists through the first three quarters of action. Then, with only 49 seconds gone in the fourth quarter, the injury bug struck again.

Sample was escorted off the field with a right shoulder injury, and he did not return.

Fortunately, according to Paul Dehner, Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the injury appears to be minor and the hope is that Sample will be back in time for next week’s preseason finale against Miami in Paul Brown Stadium.

“It’s not my first injury in football,” Sample said. “Hopefully, it’s my last. This is a very physical game we play. You never want to be in the training room longer than you need to be.”

With the status of Joseph Ossai still up in the air after sustaining a wrist injury against Tampa Bay, the Bengals are going to need all hands on deck as they prepare for the season opener at home against Minnesota on September 13.