Week 6 injury report: Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow, RB Joe Mixon won’t be limited against Lions

The Detroit Lions’ Week 6 opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, have declared their injury designations, and despite being banged up, both QB Joe Burrow and RB Joe Mixon will get full workloads this weekend.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the Bengals’ injury report, with the starters bolded.

Reserve/COVID-19 list

• RB Samaje Perine

Both Jackson Carman and Samaje Perine were placed on the Bengals’ reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, but by Friday, Carman was removed and could return to the starting lineup this weekend.

Meanwhile, Perine remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list and when coach Zac Taylor discussed the running back depth chart, the list did not include Perine, suggesting they are not expecting him to be available on Sunday.

Ruled out

• OL D’Ante Smith (Knee) - Will be placed in Injured Reserve, per Cincy Jungle

“Unfortunately, Smith suffered a knee injury in practice Wednesday, which turned out to be a meniscus injury that will require surgery and land him on injured reserve, according to head coach Zac Taylor,” Jason Marcum of the Cincy Jungle wrote.

Questionable

• RB Joe Mixon (Ankle)
• RG Jackson Carman - Removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday
• WR Mike Thomas (Ankle)

Mixon was limited in last week’s game, ceding the bulk of the carries to Perine. But with Perine on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Bengals were hopeful Mixon would return to full health and they took early week precautions to help facilitate their plan. On Friday, Taylor said Mixon should get a full workload against the Lions and they are not putting him on a snap count. That said, Mixon was only limited in Friday’s practice.

Taylor wasn’t ready to commit to Carman getting the start at right guard—likely because he only practiced on Friday this week—and said either Carman or reserve center Trey Hill would get the nod versus the Lions. Carman had started the previous three games after taking over for Xavier Su’a-filo, who is currently on injured reserve.

No injury designation

• QB Joe Burrow (Throat)
• C Trey Hopkins (Knee)
• LG Quinton Spain (Not injury related)
• RET/CB Darius Phillips (illness)

During last week’s game against the Packers, Burrow suffered a throat contusion and post-game was taken to a local hospital for further evaluations. Reports following the visit suggested the evaluation was precautionary in nature and everything checked out fine. Burrow was on a word count throughout the week but beyond that, he wasn’t limited at practices.

Hopkins didn’t practice on Wednesday, returned to limited work on Thursday, and got in a full practice on Friday. He looks to be on track to start at center on Sunday. If he isn’t able to play—and the Bengals start Carman at right guard—this could also be a spot where Hill could be promoted to a starting role.

Rounding out the interior offensive line, starting left guard Spain was limited early in the week, but it was not injury-related and he should be good to play without limitation.

Phillips was ill and missed practice on Wednesday but back in full on Thursday and will return as the team’s primary return man and reserve corner role.