Chris Evans a healthy scratch
Bengals RB Chris Evans is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Rams. He wasn't this week's injury report, so this looks like a healthy scratch. RBs Joe Mixon, Trayveon Williams, and Chase Brown are active for Cincinnati.
Mixon out for Week 12
Bengals RB Joe Mixon (concussion) is out for Sunday's game vs. the Titans. We'll see if he can make it back for Week 13. His absence leaves Samaje Perine as Cincinnati's lead back, although the matchup against Tennessee's 5th-ranked RB defense makes him as more of a low-end RB2 in fantasy lineups. Chris Evans is set to return from his knee injury and should operate as the #2 RB on Sunday.
Perine the 3rd-down favorite
Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Monday that RB Samaje Perine has a “leg up” in the competition to be the 3rd-down back. Taylor also called Perine a "security blanket" while acknowledging that 2nd-year RB Chris Evans could still earn the role. The main takeaway here is that the team doesn't want to put too much on Joe Mixon's plate, despite his 3-down skill set. A Mixon injury would almost certainly lead to a timeshare.
Perine starts on PUP
The Bengals on Saturday placed RB Samaje Perine on the training camp PUP list. The team didn't reveal his injury, and a player can come off the camp PUP at any point. But it certainly doesn't help him in his competition with Chris Evans to serve as the team's #2 RB. We'll be watching that battle throughout camp.
Mixon sidelined Thursday
Bengals RB Joe Mixon (ankle) did not practice on Thursday. He either suffered a setback with that ankle or got the day off. Tomorrow's practice participation and final injury report will tell the story. With RB Samaje Perine still on the COVID list, rookie Chris Evans could be left as the lead back for Sunday's game vs. the Lions.
Mixon has "minor" ankle injury
Bengals RB Joe Mixon was knocked out late in Thursday night's game vs. the Jaguars with an ankle injury. HC Zac Taylor called it "minor" after the win. Mixon has 10 days to get ready for Cincinnati's Week 5 game vs. the Packers. We'll monitor his status next week. If Mixon misses time, it'd likely be Samaje Perine as the Bengals' lead back, with Chris Evans mixing in on passing downs.
