The Cincinnati Bengals, despite the crushing loss to the Cleveland Browns, enter Week 2 incredibly lucky.
And not in the sense that Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Kansas City all lost too — though that certainly doesn’t hurt.
Buy Bengals TicketsLucky in that they escaped healthy, given the prosperity for teams to suffer major setbacks in Week 1.
A quick rundown of the tally:
For the Ravens, cornerback Marcus Williams is “out for a while” with a pec injury. Offensive linemen Ronnie Stanley and Tyler Linderbaum suffered sprains (knee and ankle, respectively), making it possible they miss the Week 2 matchup. Running back J.K. Dobbins is out for the season with a torn Achilles. Both cornerback Marlon Humphrey and tight end Mark Andrews are possibly going to play in Week 2 after missing the opener.
And that’s just the Ravens.
Browns lineman Jack Conklin, who left Sunday’s game on a cart, is out for the season.
Steelers elite defender Cameron Heyward is out indefinitely due to a groin injury that will require surgery. Tight end Pat Freiermuth suffered a chest injury and wideout Diontae Johnson will miss a few weeks with a hamstring issue.
And that’s just in the AFC North.
The Chiefs didn’t have Travis Kelce in Week 1. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered that serious injury on Monday night. It goes on and on.
The Bengals? Joseph Ossai is still working his way back from the ankle injury suffered in the preseason finale. One could argue Burrow looks rusty at least in part due to the calf injury, though coaches are adamant his struggles were due to the weather.
Regardless, luck is a big ingredient in a deep playoff run and it feels like the Bengals just dodged a weekend littered with injuries that have season-long ramifications.
