Bengals ‘likely’ to be without rookie defensive end Ossai for season
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has been waiting on more information before providing an official update on defensive end Joseph Ossai’s knee injury. Thursday following practice, Taylor said it’s “likely” Ossai will miss the season.
“That seems to be the direction that’s headed,” Taylor said. “He had surgery the other day.”
Ossai hurt his knee in Cincinnati’s first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The third-round pick left the game and did not return. The Bengals were counting on Ossai to be an impact player in his first season in the NFL. Ossai had the lone sack on Tom Brady during the Aug. 14 exhibition matchup and finished with five quarterback pressures.
The Bengals host the Miami Dolphins for their final preseason game Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, and Taylor said they will use that contest to help answer who is capable of replacing Ossai.
“That’s where a lot of the competition is,” Taylor said. “We need people to step up there. With (Noah) Spence joining us and (Darius) Hodge in there and Cam Sample, there’s a lot of guys in there competing for those opportunities and they’ll all be playing on Sunday. Finally get Khalid Kareem back. He’s been getting good work in there as well.”