The Cincinnati Bengals will get some big help on the defensive line when they attempt to stop Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Before the final practice of the week, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that Trey Hendrickson, Myles Murphy, B.J. Hill and McKinnley Jackson were all cleared to play.
The final injury report proved Taylor right, too:
CB Mike Hilton — Questionable
DT McKinnley Jackson — Questionable
DE Myles Murphy — Questionable
DT Sheldon Rankins — Questionable
Hendrickson had a scary-looking neck injury that has progressed nicely. Murphy and the rookie Jackson had been on injured reserve but are good to go. Hill, based on comments from coaches, was always trending in the right direction, too.
That just leaves Sheldon Rankins as the lone guy about to miss the game for the line. And based on recent updates, he isn’t all that close yet.
The Bengals are already getting a steady breakout from second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr., too, with his snap counts seemingly about to take a jump.
While these key defenders being cleared doesn’t mean they will take heavy snap counts, it is more talent available than the team has had along the line for most of the season.
Good timing and thing, too, because it doesn’t sound like the Bengals will look to free agency or trades for help, either.
