The Cincinnati Bengals have seemingly gotten their groove back lately by winning four games in a row after starting the season off very poorly.
Quarterback Joe Burrow seems like he’s back to his old self after dealing with a calf strain during training camp and the first several games of the season, while wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have stepped things up.
But just when it seemed like Bengals fans were starting to make plans for a Super Bowl appearance this winter, the injury bug bit the team again.
Chase has been dealing with a back injury that caused him to miss practice, and it put his status for this week’s game against the Houston Texans in question.
He returned to practice on Thursday, and he said he felt good on the field, per Jeremy Rauch.
“I felt good.”
Here’s 40 seconds with Ja’Marr Chase on practice today and his status for Sunday.
It all adds up to what he calls a “game time decision.”#Bengals @fox19 pic.twitter.com/fVBNL6mwZK
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) November 9, 2023
With Higgins also hobbled due to a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out on Sunday, Cincinnati needs Chase to be healthy enough to play and play well.
The Texans aren’t the pushovers they appeared to be when the season started — rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is playing extremely well, and they have won four of their last six games.
The Bengals are 5-3, but they’re in last place in a very competitive NFC North, as well as 1.5 games behind the resurgent Baltimore Ravens for first place in the division.
This game against the Texans is especially important since they will face the Ravens next week after a short rest period on Thursday.
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Bengals ‘Expected’ To Be Without Star WR For Texans Game