Joseph Ossai could be sidelined for up to 4 weeks

UPDATE 3

In an interview with Kelsey Conway, Joseph Ossai revealed he could miss up to four weeks. If that’s the case, then he will definitely miss the Bengals’ opener vs. the Browns and the Week 2 matchup with the Ravens.

If Ossai is truly in danger of missing up to four weeks, you have to wonder if the Bengals will send him to injured reserve, where he’d have to remain for at least four games. That means he’d also miss Week 3 vs. the Los Angeles Rams and Week 4 vs. the Tennessee Titans.

Whatever the case may be, here’s to hoping we see a fully healthy Ossai whenever he makes his return for a Bengals pass rush that needs him to make a big impact in Year 3.

UPDATE 2

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway, Joseph Ossai has a high ankle sprain that will likely sideline him in Week 1 when the Cincinnati Bengals face the Cleveland Browns.

A tough blow for the Bengals defense, and one that could affect who makes the 53-man roster since the Bengals will likely be down a defensive end for at least one game.

UPDATE

Following the Bengals’ loss at Washington, head coach Zac Taylor was unsure what the exact injury was for Joseph Ossai.

“Not sure. Not sure. Could be a sprain. We’ll find out,” said Taylor.

When asked why a key player like Ossai was playing in this game, it’s simple.

“Needed the reps. Needed the reps,” Taylor said of Ossai.

Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson says it doesn’t appear Ossai broke his ankle, so at least there’s that.

Edge Joseph Ossai, one of their top pass rushers, left with what could be an ankle sprain. It doesn’t appear to be broken.

Here’s to hoping Ossai is fine and will be on the field Week 1 when the Bengals face the Cleveland Browns.

The Cincinnati Bengals are taking on the Washington Commanders this evening for their final preseason game.

Unfortunately, it seems like one of the more prominent players who actually took the field may have suffered an injury. Defensive lineman Joseph Ossai headed to the locker room without a shoe on.

Ossai has yet to return to the Bengals sideline. The team has announced it’s an ankle injury, and Ossai won’t return.

There is no word on how severe the injury could possibly be. It could just also be the training staff being overly cautious with a fairly important player in a preseason game.

Ossai was the first defensive end off the bench to provide a pass rush last season. He was expected to be in a similar role this season, even with the team taking Myles Murphy in the first round of this year’s draft.

If Ossai is forced to miss time, Murphy may be put out there more often than anticipated early on and could cause a huge shakeup with pass-rushing packages. He has taken the field as an interior lineman or allowed Sam Hubbard or Trey Hendrickson to kick inside more frequently.

Without Ossai, it will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will mix things up.

We will update this post if more details on Joseph Ossai’s injury become available.