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The Bengals have lost 24-year old DT Pat Sims for the rest of the year due to a broken right forearm. Sims played in all 16 games during the regular season for the Bengals and he made 34 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and he had 1/2 a sack. This really hurts the depth of the defensive line heading into this week’s playoff rematch with the New York Jets.
The Bengals have lost rookie inside linebacker Rey Maualuga for the rest of the season due to a fractured left ankle. He played really well as a rookie for the Bengals this season. Maualuga played in 15 games for the Bengals this season and he made 63 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, forced 3 fumbles, defensed 2 passes and he had 1 sack. He will be a player the Bengals build the defense around in the future. Lucky for the Bengals that they still have 26-year old Rashad Jeanty around and he will repalce Maualuga in the starting line-up the rest of the year. He has played in 14 games for the Bengals this season and he has made 12 tackles. He has now played in 52 games in his four years with the Bengals and he has made 207 tackles, defensed 5 passes and he has forced 5 fumbles. The Bengals’ D shouldn’t suffer much with Jeanty in the starting line-up.
The Bengals have placed rookie TE Chase Coffman on the Injured Reserve List with bone spurs. The Bengals took Coffman in the third round out of Missouri with the thought that he could fill the black hole they have had at TE for a couple of years now. But, he has been a complete bust so far as he was not active for ONE game in his rookie year.
The Bengals have lost starting DT Domata Peko for a couple of weeks due to a knee scope. Peko has played in 11 games for the Bengals this season and he has 23 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed. Losing Peko could hurt the Bengals’ run defense but it’s better to get him healthy for the playoffs than risk his injury getting worse so surgery was the right thing to do.
It’s not known yet how serious Cedric Benson’s hip injury is but he didn’t return to the game Sunday after injuring it. Benson has been one of the main men in the Bengals’ offense and he is a player that the team can’t afford to lose. Benson has played in all 9 games for the Bengals this season and he has carried the ball 205 times for 859 yards (4.2 ypc) with 6 TD runs. He has also caught 10 passes for 66 yards (6.6 avg) this year. If Benson has to miss some time rookie Bernard Scott will likely move into the starting lineup. Scott has played in all 9 games for the Bengals so far this season and he has carried the ball 29 times for 95 yards (3.3 ypc) and he has also caught 2 passes for 35 yards (17.5 avg). If Scott is indeed moved into the starting lineup the Bengals will have to replace him on kickoff returns and that would also hurt the Bengals. He has returned 7 kickoffs for 261 yards (37.3 avg) so far this season for the Bengals. The Bengals had better hope that Benson isn’t too seriously injured because they need him big time.