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The Cincinnati Bengals hit the practice field on Wednesday, still shaking off the effects of their recent trip to Spain. As the team transitions from the first half of the season, the injury report remains relatively clean, with only a few notable names.
Rookie offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild was the sole new addition to the injury report after sustaining a minor injury at the end of Sunday's 34-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He was officially listed as limited during the Bengals' walkthrough on Wednesday afternoon. Cornerback DJ Turner was also limited due to an ankle issue, while defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (rest) and safety Kyle Dugger (quadriceps) did not participate.
Recovery and Rest
The Bengals incorporated veteran rest days early in the week but expect to have a nearly full-strength roster for Sunday night's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team is coming off a successful bonding experience in Spain, which head coach Zac Taylor highlighted.
"It seemed like they spent a lot of time together outside the hotel," Taylor said. "My favorite part of winning a game like that and long travel is the plane. Just the volume on the plane, the camaraderie on the plane. That's generally when you know it's been a good day, good trip, and I certainly felt that last night. I'm sitting in my seat, and I'm watching all the players come by and the attitude they have, and they're joking with their teammates and telling stories about the week or telling stories about the game. That is probably my favorite part of any of the road experiences."
Injury Reserve Updates
Several players on injured reserve, including wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (thumb), cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor (hamstring), and rookie offensive lineman Brian Parker (knee), are eligible to return, but it remains uncertain whether they will be activated this week.
Challenges Ahead
Beyond the jet lag, the Bengals face a Steelers team coming off its bye week. Taylor acknowledged the difficulty of such a scenario. "I don't know what the stats are. I just know they're not great. I honestly can't even give you a ballpark of what they are," Taylor said regarding the trend of international game teams struggling against opponents fresh off a bye. "I just think common sense would tell you it's probably a little challenging. But I think we have a great mindset right now."
For the full Wednesday injury report, which includes several Steelers players, see below.