Why are the Bengals resting Joe Burrow, starters vs. Browns?

Bengals’ lovers will be receiving some extra football this period.

For the 1st time due to the fact 2015, Cincinnati is headed to the playoffs right after it secured the AFC North division crown previous week. It now has only a single recreation left in what has been a magical 2021 campaign for a crew that completed in fourth put for a few straight seasons. That video game is another clash versus the AFC North rival Browns.

With the workforce presently acquiring locked up its place in the playoffs, the Bengals are going to be absent a quantity of starters on Sunday in the closing matchup of the common season.

Sporting News breaks down who will be sitting down towards the match, and why Cincinnati is creating this choice.

A lot more: Total NFL playoff photo for 7 days 18

Why is Joe Burrow sitting down out vs. Browns?

The most notable inactive for the match will be Burrow. An MVP candidate this time, Burrow has been instrumental in foremost the Bengals to this turnaround, specially in the earlier two video games as he has blended to complete 78.8 per cent of his passes for 971 yards, 8 touchdowns and no interceptions. Over-all this year, he has completed 70.4 percent of his passes for 34 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 4,611 yards.

Even so, the Bengals are now on the lookout massive picture. Burrow is the undisputed most essential piece of their offense, and he has already been sacked a league-most 51 times this year. He’ll be struggling with a Browns’ crew that features Myles Garrett, one of the league’s greatest go-rushers, and a group that total has 39 sacks on the yr.

There’s also the point that previous week on a single of the closing performs of the activity, Burrow tweaked his correct knee, re-aggravating an injuries he initially experienced in Week 13 towards the Chargers. Last time, he was confined to just 10 online games right after he experienced year-ending surgical procedures on his remaining knee to repair a torn ACL and MCL.

“I can surely say for Joe that we will relaxation him this 7 days and make confident that he’s 100 p.c prepared to go,” Taylor explained all through his Wednesday push convention. “I know he’s felt great and can engage in if required, but I just designed the conclusion that we’re going to relaxation him this week.”

Far more: Brandon Staley claims Chargers is not going to engage in for tie in not likely playoff state of affairs vs. Raiders

In Burrow’s put, the Bengals will start backup Brandon Allen, who commenced five game titles for the Bengals past year following Burrow’s injury. In individuals five online games, he went 1-4 with a 63.4 per cent completion proportion, 5 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions with 925 passing yards.

The Bengals nevertheless have the likely to place as higher as No. 2 in the playoffs, but it would call for the Titans to shed to the Texans on Sunday, in what would be a key upset, and for the Expenditures to safe the AFC East with a win against the Jets and keep the Patriots away from the division crown. Specified that it is most probable Cincinnati will end as either the No. 3 or 4 seed and host the initial spherical of the playoffs no make any difference what, the incentive to participate in for seeding shouldn’t be as high.

There is certainly also the reality that significantly of the subject remains unsettled, and the Bengals could confront any of the seven playoff groups nonetheless in the playoff image that haven’t secured the division title.

Who are Bengals resting vs. Browns?

The relaxation of the starters, on the other hand, stay a bit uncertain. Taylor reported during his press meeting that the group has not had way too quite a few deep discussions about which starters will be out for the activity, if any outside of Burrow.

There are, even so, a handful of that by now have been dominated out of the activity. Functioning back Joe Mixon tested good for COVID-19, and even though he could technically return off the record in time for the match, ESPN’s Adam Schefter described that he will not engage in on Sunday.

NFL COVID-19 TRACKER: Up to date group-by-team listing of gamers in protocol for Week 18

Cincinnati will also not have left guard Quinton Spain, who not only was included to the COVID-19 list, but also experienced an ankle sprain personal injury knock him out of the 7 days 17 matchup with the Chiefs. Taylor stated all through his push conference that he did not foresee it would hold him out for far too extensive, nonetheless.

Taylor also stated there is a possibiility that rookie extensive receiver Ja’Marr Chase may well be rested on Sunday.

There were other Bengals positioned on the COVID-19 listing before in the 7 days, and their status remains unclear on whether they will participate in. Among the them were being security Vonn Bell, defensive close Trey Hendrickson and center Trey Hopkins.