Mixon is out 2-4 weeks following knee surgery
BENGALS’ MIXON OUT 2-4 WEEKS AFTER KNEE SURGERY
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery Saturday, and the timeline for his return is roughly two to four weeks, a source told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
The procedure came two days after Mixon suffered a right knee injury during the team’s 34-23 victory Thursday night over AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. Mixon missed a portion of the second half before returning to finish with 84 yards on 21 carries.
With the surgery done, there is a chance the second-year running back could only miss next week’s game against the Carolina Panthers before returning for the team’s Week 4 contest against the Atlanta Falcons, Rapoport reported.
Giovani Bernard, who is in his sixth season, should see the majority of snaps moving forward, but the offense will miss Mixon’s big-play capability while he recovers.
The Bengals were 7-2 when Mixon received 15-plus touches during his 2017 rookie campaign. Through two games this season, he had 22 offensive touches in each of the team’s games and made the most of the additional work. Mixon averaged 19 carries per game for 89.5 yards and 4.7 yards per carry in the first two games when compared to 12.7 carries for 44.7 yards and 3.5 yards per carry last year.
In other injury news, rookie center Billy Price strained his right foot when it was stepped on in the first quarter. Defensive end Michael Johnson hurt his left knee and missed the last three quarters. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Friday that neither injury is severe.
Otherwise, the Bengals were feeling good coming off their second straight impressive win set up by the offense’s turnaround from a year ago.
Cincinnati had its streak of five straight playoff appearances broken in 2016, and got off to an 0-3 start last year that led to another losing record. Lewis received a two-year extension, but there were changes in the rest of the coaching staff.
Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was elevated from interim coordinator and spent the offseason rewriting the playbook. In the first two games, he’s leaned more heavily on Mixon both as a runner and receiver. He’s moved quarterback Andy Dalton out of the pocket on misdirection plays. And he’s put the emphasis on going for big plays, something that was missing last year.
Dalton has looked very comfortable in the new schemes. He’s completed 64 percent of his throws with six touchdowns, one interception, two sacks and a passer rating of 108.5. Lazor’s approach allows him to do what he does best: get rid of the ball quickly in a fastpaced, West Coast offense.
So far, he looks more like he did in 2015, when he led the AFC with a 106.3 passer rating.
“The way Bill is calling it and what we’re doing has been great,” Dalton said. “We can spread the ball around and get a lot of guys involved. I think that’s where this offense is fortunate.”
An upgraded line has made it possible. The line was a huge problem last season, unable to open holes for the running game or give Dalton time. With four new starters, the line has allowed only two sacks — none against the Ravens — and provided some lanes for Mixon.
Last year, the offense failed to score a touchdown while losing the first two games to Baltimore and Houston, putting their season on a bad course.
“Those two games defined us as a team,” said receiver A.J. Green, who had a careerhigh three touchdown catches on Thursday, all in the first half.