The Bengals defense has been suffering from injuries since before the season even started. Their first round draft pick, Dre Kirkpatrick, was out with a knee injury before training camp began, their fifth round pick Shawn Prater has been on the IR list since preseason, Clements, Hall, Allen, and Newman have been back and forth with injuries, and DE Dunlap just returned to action last week against the Redskins. This week, the Bengals found themselves in even more trouble to start the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars when Clements and Allen moved to the doubtful list and Hall was given the questionable status and did not practice this week. They have been forced to pick up players from the free agency, play rookies that have no game time experience, and go back to the drawing board to utilize each players' strength.
This week has been no different in the acquisitions department for the team. With the defensive backfield looking more like a battleground filled with fallen soldiers, they had to no choice but to turn to other options. This week the Bengals even signed a familiar face to fans in S Chris Crocker. You may remember the Bengals cut him just 8 months ago at the end of last season. Now he is back on the team acting as a leader and teacher to a ravaged defense. They also had to make a call to the practice squad, calling up a new, lesser, known face in CB Chris Lewis-Harris. Lewis-Harris came to the Bengals as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee-Chattanooga during camp. He is being brought up as insurance, but will probably see his first bit of NFL action in Jacksonville today.
It is no secret that the Bengals defense has been a sore thumb every time the team has taken the field this season. If the offense were not playing out of their minds right now behind the 2nd year quarterback Andy Dalton, the team would be 0-3, instead of 2-1 heading into the 4:15pm game against the Jaguars today. It could be because of the injuries or because they are just not at the top of their games. Maualuga is one player we are waiting for to step up this season. Whatever it is, I know that Bengal nation would like to see something productive out of them soon and this is the game to do it. The Jaguars have struggled on both sides of the ball led by quarterback Blaine Gabbert. They do have a not-so-secret weapon, though, in RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Today he has a great match up against the worst run defense in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals. If they can contain him and Dalton, Hawkins, and Green can continue to put up crazy numbers than the Bengals may walk away still tied with the Ravens for the AFC North at 3-1. It would be crazy to think they got there with the arguably one of the worst, most injured defenses in the NFL...but I believe.
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