Bengals’ Allen out at least three weeks
With Cincinnati's defensive scheme often utilizing three-safety looks, Ricardo Allen played in 25% of the Bengals' defensive snaps in the season opener.
Now the Bengals will need to fill his role on the defense.
Allen injured his hamstring and hand in the Bengals win over the Minnesota Vikings and will miss at least three weeks.
“The hamstring might not have been a three-week deal, but the hand will be,” head coach Zac Taylor said. “We are hopeful it's just three weeks and (he will) be able to come back. It gives us time to work the hamstring as well.”
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo played Allen mostly in passing situations, and Allen picked up three tackles against Minnesota.
“We feel really good about our (line) backers in coverage. We feel really good about our safeties in coverage. We feel great about our corners in coverage," said Taylor. "So we feel like there's some depth there that you can package around and get the right guys on the field.”
With Allen on the short-term injured reserve, the Bengals signed a veteran safety with a similar profile to the practice squad. Cincinnati added Sean Davis, who played with the Pittsburgh Steelers between 2016 and 2019.
Davis has started 42 of his 65 games and recorded 259 career tackles, 21 pass deflections and five interceptions. Davis took on a limited role in 2020, and he signed with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.
Davis played only on special teams in the season opener, and Indianapolis released him on Tuesday.