The Cincinnati Bengals will reportedly be without starting running back Chase Brown for tonight’s must-win finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Battling a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 17, Brown officially entered the game as questionable after failing to practice all week. Head coach Zac Taylor deemed him a game-time decision. Per FOX Sports 1’s Jordan Schultz, Brown will be inactive today.
Chase Brown apparently didn’t look good in pre-game warmups, shaking his head and coming off the field after trying to get loose.
UPDATE (6:42 PM): Brown is officially inactive and won’t play. Rookie OT Amarius Mims, questionable with ankle/hand injuries, is active.
A shorter turnaround, Saturday to Saturday instead of Saturday to Sunday, did Brown and the team any favors of suiting up.
With Chase Brown out of action, Khalil Herbert is expected to start. A midseason pickup, he’s hardly played this season and has just eight carries, 45 yards, and 42 offensive snaps with the Bengals. Trayveon Williams is on the 53-man roster but exclusively plays on special teams. Cincinnati signed Kendall Milton off its practice squad earlier in the week. He’s appeared in one NFL game, logging five snaps in a Week 9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
An explosive runner, Brown has served as the team’s workhorse. He’s logged at least 80 percent of the Bengals’ offensive snaps in eight-straight games, taking over a full-time role following Zack Moss’ season-ending injury. In his Week 13 matchup against the Steelers, Brown carried the ball 12 times for 70 yards and a rushing score, highlighted by a 40-yard burst that set up his touchdown. An effective pass catcher, Brown has 54 receptions this season.
Still, Cincinnati is driven by QB Joe Burrow and its threats at wide receiver. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins make for one of the NFL’s top combos while Burrow is posting MVP numbers. That remains the main obstacle for Pittsburgh’s defense to overcome tonight.
