Short-handed Bengals’ defense faces big test
Ben Roethlisberger threw the ball 46 times and got hit only once. When the Bengals’ defense went with an all-out blitz in the closing seconds to try to get a hand on him, he threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown to win the game.
The Bengals’ defense had one of its worst performances against its biggest nemesis, a big reason why Pittsburgh was able to pull out a 28-21 win. Up next is an even better offense and a daunting road venue.
Oh, and they’ll play the Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) on a Sunday night. The Bengals have dropped their past eight games on Sunday night, when they’re 3-15 overall.
“Any time you want to be one of the great ones on the defense or you want your defense to have a statement-type game, you have to do it against the best offenses in the league,” defensive end Carlos Dunlap said. “And right now, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t face much of a pass rush against the Bengals on Sunday.
they’re putting up those points like they’re one of the best offenses in the league. So you’ve got to go out there and put it on ‘em.”
The Bengals’ defense is depleted by injuries heading to Kansas City. Linebacker Nick Vigil is out indefinitely with a knee injury, safety Shawn Williams is in concussion protocol, and cornerback Darqueze Dennard is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Four other defensive players were limited in practice Wednesday
because of injuries, although they’re likely to play on Sunday.
Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase described quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s worsening injury last week as unusual, and now it has drawn the interest of the NFL.
The league is looking into how the Dolphins reported Tannehill’s shoulder problem on injury reports last week,
two people with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday. The Dolphins declined to comment.
It’s common for the NFL to look into such situations involving a prominent player. The league is expected to contact the Dolphins to learn the details and make sure the injury report policy was followed.
The Dolphins listed Tannehill as questionable Friday, and the decision not to play him against the Chicago Bears was made hours before kickoff. He has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Detroit.
The Buffalo Bills are turning to newly signed veteran quarterback Derek Anderson to fill in against Indianapolis for rookie starter Josh Allen, who has been ruled out with a sprained elbow on his throwing arm.
Anderson, 35, goes from being lured out of semiretirement last week to serve as Allen’s mentor to preparing to make his first start in nearly two seasons. Anderson attempted eight passes in three appearances as a backup in Carolina last year. He has a 20-27 record as a starter over a 12-year NFL career.
• NFL owners left a two-day meeting in New York with no plans to make changes to the league’s national anthem policy for the foreseeable future, according to multiple sources.
• Safety Andre Hal, who is in remission after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, resumed practicing with the Houston Texans, giving the team 21 days to take him off the nonfootball illness list and add him to the active roster. Hal, 26, was diagnosed with the disease in May and immediately began treatment. He started all 16 games last season and had three interceptions.
• Bears star pass rusher Khalil Mack is day to day because of an ankle injury suffered Sunday against Miami.
• Receiver Breshad Perriman practiced with the Cleveland Browns for the first time since signing with them on Saturday. Coach Hue Jackson said there is a chance Perriman will contribute in Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay. “The guy is big, fast and caught the ball well (Wednesday), so that’s good,” Jackson said. “It’s a good start.”