Bengals get healthier in time to face Packers

After beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-21Thursday night, the Cincinnati Bengals rested during a weekend off that the team needed from a health standpoint.

The Bengals were without wide receiver Tee Higgins (shoulder), safety Jessie Bates (neck), cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (groin) and guard Xavier Su'a-filo (knee) against Jacksonville.

Head coach Zac Taylor said the team was merely being extra cautious with Bates because it was a neck injury, that he was optimistic about Higgins, and that — had the Bengals faced the Jaguars on Sunday — Awuzie might have been able to play.

Su'a-filo, meanwhile, is considered “day-to-day,” but Taylor has already confirmed that Jackson Carman, the Bengals' second-round pick, will get his third start this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

Although Taylor was hesitant to name Carman the permanent starter for the remainder of the season, he did say he was pleased with what he's seen from the rookie since he stepped into the starting role.

In addition to the four players who couldn't play against the Jaguars, running back Joe Mixon was not on the field during Cincinnati's game-winning drive.

ESPN'S Adam Schefter reported Mixon suffered a “low-grade” ankle sprain and is considered “week to week” at this point.

Taylor refuted Schefter's report saying he would instead label Mixon's status as “day-to-day.”.

“For a running back like Joe with an ankle, early in the week, especially Wednesday, potentially going into Thursday,” Taylor said, “don't read anything into that if he's limited early in the week when you guys are out at practice. I know he wants to play and will do everything he can to put himself in that position.”

Mixon ranks No. 3 in the NFL in rushing yards with 353 and has two touchdowns.

KAREEM ELGAZZAR Bengals coach Zac Taylor said that running back Joe Mixon, here receiving a handoff from Joe Burrow during Thursday’s win over the Jaguars, is day-to-day with an ankle injury.