Cincinnati Bengals

Despite losing their last two games and falling to ninth place in the AFC playoff standings, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor remains optimistic about his team's ability to rebound. 

Taylor told reporters why he doesn't think "anybody wants to play us" down the stretch and in a potential postseason matchup. 

"And we haven't won all the games that we felt like we should've won," he said. "But I think our guys have a ton of confidence, and people see what they're about, see the talent we've got in all three phases, and see that we're going to fight to the last second."

This season has been a mixed bag overall for the Bengals. They have shown tremendous upside with blowout wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers (twice, including a 41-10 victory in Week 12) and Baltimore Ravens (41-17 in Week 7). 

But the Bengals also have some frustrating and inexplicable losses on their resume. One week after the victory over Baltimore, they lost 34-31 to the New York Jets in a game that Mike White threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns against their defense. 

During its current two-game losing streak, Cincinnati has shown both its good and bad tendencies. It fell behind 24-0 early in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers before scoring 22 unanswered points to make it a two-point game midway through the third quarter. 

The Chargers closed the game by scoring 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to earn a 41-22 win. 

Sunday's overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers might be their most disappointing defeat of the season. Darius Phillips muffed two punts in the first half to set up two 49ers scoring drives, including a late second-quarter touchdown that extended the lead to 17-3. 

Joe Burrow led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to tie the score at 20.

The Bengals got a field goal on the first possession of overtime, but San Francisco drove 75 yards in seven plays and got the game-winning touchdown from Brandon Aiyuk. 

Sunday's loss left the Bengals with a 7-6 record, but just one game behind the Ravens atop the AFC North. Those two teams meet in Cincinnati on Dec. 26. 

Despite their record, the Bengals have an exciting offense capable of scoring with anyone in the NFL. Burrow's chemistry with Ja'Marr Chase has translated perfectly from LSU into the NFL. The rookie receiver has already eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, and he's tied for third in the league with 10 touchdown catches. 

Tee Higgins has turned into a fantastic No. 2 option with 812 receiving yards. Joe Mixon has 1,036 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. 

As long as the Bengals can avoid making the kinds of mistakes that cost them against the 49ers, they still have all the pieces in place to make noise in a crowded AFC playoff race.    

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a dislocated pinky finger when he was sacked by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu on his team's first drive of Sunday's 41-22 loss.

Burrow spoke about the injury after the game, noting he won't miss any time:

Joe Burrow says he dislocated his pinkie on first quarter strip sack. #Bengals pic.twitter.com/yoMahK10py

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 5, 2021

The injury didn't appear to be an issue until Burrow was seen holding his finger following a rushing touchdown late in the first half. He was able to stay in the game despite the injury.

After falling behind 24-0 in the first half, Burrow led the Bengals back, pulling to within 24-22 and were even in position to potentially take the lead in the fourth before a Joe Mixon fumble was returned for a score early in the fourth.

Burrow finished the game 24-of-40 for 300 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, adding six yards and a score on the ground.

He was sacked six times in the game.

This is not the first time Burrow has dealt with an injury in his career. Burrow required a short hospital stay following the Bengals' Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers  in October because of a possible throat contusion, but he didn't miss any games.

The 2020 first overall pick previously had his rookie season cut short after 10 appearances because of significant knee injuries, including a torn ACL and MCL, but he recovered in time for the start of the 2021 campaign.

He's completed 68.3 percent of his throws for 3,135 yards with 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 12 games so far this season.

Burrow has shown some flashes of brilliance early in his career, but staying healthy will be an integral part of him ultimately developing into a long-term franchise quarterback.

The early slate of NFL games on Sunday had some wild matchups, improbable results and offered clarity on the playoff picture as we enter the final stretch of the season.

Below, we'll take a look at the updated standings and break down all the implications of the day's early and late-afternoon results.

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AFC Standings

1. New England Patriots (8-4)

2. Tennessee Titans (8-4)

3. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4)

5. Buffalo Bills (7-4)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-5)

7. Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5-1)

9. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)

10. Las Vegas Raiders (6-6)

11. Cleveland Browns (6-6)

12. Denver Broncos (6-6)

13. Miami Dolphins (6-7)

14. New York Jets (3-9)

15. Houston Texans (2-10)

16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)

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NFC Standings

1. Arizona Cardinals (10-2)

2. Green Bay Packers (9-3)

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3)

4. Dallas Cowboys (8-4)

5. Los Angeles Rams (8-4)

6. Washington Football Team (6-6)

7. San Francisco 49ers (6-6)

8. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)

9. Minnesota Vikings (5-7)

10. Carolina Panthers (5-7)

11. Atlanta Falcons (5-7)

12. New Orleans Saints (5-7)

13. New York Giants (4-8)

14. Chicago Bears (4-8)

15. Seattle Seahawks (4-8)

16. Detroit Lions (1-10-1)

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Analysis

While there will be more clarity in the playoff picture after Sunday and Monday night—namely in the AFC East, with the Patriots and Bills battling on Monday Night Football for first place in the division—there was certainly plenty to be learned from the early and late-afternoon games Sunday.

The Cardinals, for instance, still control the top overall seed in the NFC after a convincing 33-22 win over the Bears. In fact, the early slate of games didn't change the first four seeds in the AFC or the first six seeds in the NFC in the slightest.

But things sure got interesting from there.

In the AFC, the Chargers' huge 41-22 win over the Bengals bumped the Bills up to the No. 5 seed in the playoff picture after they started the day at No. 6, while the Chargers moved up to No. 6 and the Bengals fell to No. 7.

Chargers with the scoop-n-score❗️

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/0Oar9IzIvn

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 5, 2021

The wild-card berths are going to come down to the wire. Currently, just 1.5 games separate the No. 6 Chargers from the No. 13 Dolphins, who have now won five in a row.

I saw the #Ravens annihilate the #Chargers. Then I witnessed the #Bengals pound the Ravens. And now the Chargers have taken it to the Bengals. Will someone tell me what circular theorem that is b/c I have no idea... #AFC

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 5, 2021

And don't sleep on the Colts, winners of six of their last eight.

In the NFC, the current battle for the No. 7 seed got more interesting, as the Eagles bolstered their chances with a Gardner Minshew-led win over the hapless Jets, while the Giants and Bears likely fell out of contention at 4-8 apiece and the Vikings dropped a winnable matchup versus the Lions.

THE GAME WINNER FOR THE LIONS. #OnePride

(Via: @NFL) pic.twitter.com/stWPhGgpgP

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 5, 2021

Eagles have rushed for 175+ yards in 6 straight games

First time since 1949. 72 years ago

Eagles are 6-7

Eagles right now are in the 7th and final playoff spot. They need Washington to lose to stay there

pic.twitter.com/1O8hLrm55C

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 5, 2021

Just one game separates the No. 6 Washington Football Team from the No. 12 Saints. Washington's win, coupled with San Francisco's loss, moved Washington up to the No. 6 spot. Like the AFC, the NFC is all bunched up in the wild-card chase.

As for the "race" to the top overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, the Lions remain peerless, still holding a grip on the selection with 1-10-1 record. The Texans and Jaguars are trying to make up ground, however, each dropping to 2-10 on the year. They now find themselves just a half-game back of the Lions after Detroit's stunning 29-27 win over the Vikings on Sunday.

The Los Angeles Chargers notched a key win in the AFC playoff race by beating the Cincinnati Bengals 41-22 in Sunday's showdown at Paul Brown Stadium.

Justin Herbert led the way for the victors, who improved to 7-5 and earned a potential tiebreaker over the Bengals in the wild-card race. They didn't always make it easy and nearly lost a 24-0 lead over the course of the game, but a strong finish wrapped up the win.

who dey say gonna beat dem bengals? pic.twitter.com/n5opeKPgqM

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 5, 2021

Joe Burrow threw for 300 yards in defeat for Cincinnati, which fell to 7-5 and saw its two-game winning streak end.

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Notable Player Stats

• Justin Herbert, QB, LAC: 26-of-35 passing for 317 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
• Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC: 14 carries for 59 yards, 1 TD; 5 catches for 45 yards
• Keenan Allen, WR, LAC: 5 catches for 34 yards, 2 TDs
• Mike Williams, WR, LAC: 5 catches for 110 yards
• Joe Burrow, QB, CIN: 24-of-40 passing for 300 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
• Tee Higgins, WR, CIN: 9 catches for 138 yards, 1 TD

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Strong Start and Finish Help Chargers Avoid Collapse

The biggest storyline coming into this game was the matchup between Herbert and Burrow as two of the brightest young stars in the league.

Herbert wasted no time setting the tone in the individual battle with a brilliant first half that featured three touchdown passes, two of which went to Keenan Allen. The two playmakers even switched roles when Allen found Herbert with a pass on a two-point conversion to extend the lead to a commanding 24-0 in the second quarter.

It wasn't just the touchdown passes that stood out. Herbert recognized the height advantage his receivers had on Cincinnati's defensive backs and unleashed multiple deep balls to Mike Williams and one to Jalen Guyton for another score.

HERBO x SLAY. (📺 cbs) #ProBowlVote + @Keenan13Allen#ProBowlVote + #JustinHerbert pic.twitter.com/FDVrrPnPxb

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 5, 2021

herbo and slay strike again 💛#ProBowlVote + @Keenan13Allen#ProBowlVote + #JustinHerbert

(📺: cbs) pic.twitter.com/0Sxpk8C8ar

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 5, 2021

WHAT. A. CATCH.

Herbert airs it out to Jalen Guyton for 6 ✈️

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/webE2r0oKI

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 5, 2021

QB Keenan Allen throws to WR Justin Herbert

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/pGzzqGmexs

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 5, 2021

Yet the visitors were up just 11 at the half because Austin Ekeler lost a fumble that eventually turned into points for Cincinnati, and Herbert threw an interception to Chidobe Awuzie when taking a shot deep in Bengals' territory. Throw in Joey Bosa being ruled out for a head injury, and the early momentum disappeared.

Things continued to slip away for the Chargers with another Ekeler fumble on their first possession of the second half, which turned into a Bengals touchdown. Los Angeles' offensive line was also a mess for stretches as Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard and Co. consistently got into the backfield.

It seemed as if a stunning loss was all but inevitable when the offense stalled for two straight punts from there, but Tevaughn Campbell's fumble return for a touchdown saved the day for the Chargers.

It also reinvigorated the offense, which responded with a touchdown drive that Ekeler finished after multiple strikes from Herbert to once again create some much-needed breathing room. It wasn't always pretty, but the end result was a crucial road win in the playoff chase.

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Bengals' Comeback Efforts Unravel in Fourth Quarter

At least Cincinnati fans can take solace in the Bearcats being in the College Football Playoff because the NFL was unkind to those in attendance at Paul Brown Stadium.

Sunday's game quickly went off the rails for the Bengals when Burrow turned it over on each of their first two possessions. The first was a strip-sack from Uchenna Nwosu, although the second one wasn't the quarterback's fault as his deep ball bounced off Ja'Marr Chase's hands and right to Michael Davis for an interception.

It got worse when linebacker Logan Wilson was carted off with a shoulder injury, and even the positive development of Burrow's touchdown pass to Tee Higgins was followed by confusion on a potential two-point conversion and a missed extra point after the ensuing delay of game.

Higgins got up to snag this one for the TD 🔥

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/32BcOyhHQg

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 5, 2021

Michael Davis stays focused to make the interception 😤

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/CvjZACVz0d

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 5, 2021

huge, @TevaughnsC! #BoltUp | 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/VyLJAFutBj

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 5, 2021

.@ChrisHarrisJr with the end zone INT! #BoltUp

📺: #LACvsCIN on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/YDvJsCApTm

— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021

Despite all that and Burrow grimacing on the sidelines with an apparent injury to the pinky finger on his throwing hand, the home team was still within striking distance at halftime thanks to the quarterback's touchdown run after Jessie Bates III's long return on an Ekeler fumble.

That seemed to be key because it took all of two Cincinnati possessions in the second half to pull within two thanks to a field goal, another Chargers turnover, and Joe Mixon's impressive cutbacks and touchdown run. While Mixon was stopped on the ensuing two-point conversion, the Bengals looked to be in control during the comeback.

Yet Mixon's fumble deflated any comeback hopes, as Cincinnati followed that with dropped passes by Chase and C.J. Uzomah, an offensive line that couldn't protect Burrow on the way to six sacks, and Burrow's second interception, which went to Chris Harris Jr. in the end zone.

There were plenty of opportunities for the AFC North club to parlay all the momentum it created in the middle of the game into a victory, but an abysmal fourth quarter when combined with the initial hole proved too much to overcome.                

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What's Next?

Both teams will be home in Week 14 when the Chargers face the New York Giants and the Bengals play the San Francisco 49ers.

The NFL is flexing a Week 14 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals game into the 4:25 p.m. ET window on CBS and the Week 15 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens into the 4:25 p.m. window on FOX.

Both games will be making the move for the sake of getting them additional national exposure as the stretch run of the 2021 NFL playoff race commences. 

Both games were originally scheduled for the 1 p.m. ET window.

The 49ers (6-5) and Bengals (7-4) are alive in their divisions and respective Wild Card races. San Francisco would be the No. 6 seed in the NFC and Cincinnati the AFC's No. 5 seed if the season ended today.

The Packers (9-3) are the NFC's No. 2 seed while the Ravens (8-3) are leading the AFC if the season ended today. It's possible that game would have been flexed into the Sunday Night Football schedule, but NBC already has a New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup on the slate for Week 15. It's also possible that game is protected by FOX to avoid it being flexed to another network.

Regardless, the late-afternoon window of games for Weeks 14 and 15 are now guaranteed marquee games with playoff implications. 

The connection between 2019 LSU teammates Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson appears to still be strong with both wide receivers starring in the NFL. 

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Jefferson said he's rooting for Chase to break his record for receiving yards by a rookie. 

"He’s been doing a great job," the Minnesota Vikings star said. "He’s killing it, especially having Joe, his college quarterback. I’m proud of him and of Joe, and I hope he does break it."

Joe Burrow, who won the Heisman Trophy for LSU in 2019, has had no problems re-establishing his chemistry with Chase after one year apart. 

Jefferson rewrote the NFL record book last season when he racked up 1,400 receiving yards in his first season. Anquan Boldin previously held the mark with 1,377 yards in 2003.

Boldin's name came up again during the Cincinnati Bengals' 41-17 win over the Baltimore Ravens win last week. Chase passed the three-time Pro Bowl wideout for most receiving yards through seven games in the victory. 

Ja’Marr Chase continues his historic start to the season:
He’s the 1st player since the NFL merger to have 50+ REC Yds in each of his first 7 career games
Has 754 REC Yds this season, the most in NFL history in a player’s first 7 career games, surpassing Anquan Boldin in 2003.

— Boomer Esiason (@7BOOMERESIASON) October 24, 2021

Chase had 201 receiving yards and one touchdown on eight catches against the Ravens. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft has made everyone forget about all those concerns during preseason about his drops. 

The Bengals rookie does have the benefit of playing 17 games as he chases the record. Jefferson set the mark in a 16-game season. 

This level of production is nothing new for Chase or Jefferson. They both had more than 1,500 receiving yards and combined for 38 touchdown catches during LSU's undefeated national title season in 2019. 

Either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens have won the AFC North title in 16 of the past 20 years, but the young Cincinnati Bengals are looking to usher in a new era. 

Behind a solid defensive effort and a fantastic offensive display, the Bengals obliterated the Ravens 41-17 on Sunday, a huge road win against a division rival. 

CJ UZOMAH. 55-YARD TD.

The biggest TE play of #NationalTightEndsDay so far! #RuleTheJungle @cj_uzomah

📺: #CINvsBAL on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/fEDQ3fJK4U

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2021

Mixon for SIX. @Bengals take a 34-17 lead. #RuleTheJungle

📺: #CINvsBAL on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/i0j0sJP0Zz

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2021

Samaje Perine goes all the way for a 46-yard TD run!@Bengals can smell first place in the AFC North.

📺: #BALvsCIN on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/vrNwXu6a3h

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2021

It's another feather in Joe Burrow's cap, as the second-year quarterback continues to impress, this time outdueling his Baltimore counterpart, the ever-dangerous Lamar Jackson. Save for one poor interception, Burrow was brilliant. 

And suddenly, the young Bengals look like legitimate contenders:

The #Bengals are absolutely for real. Defense is excellent. Quarterback is elite. Chase and Mixon are stars. This is their biggest win in years and it’s only the beginning.

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) October 24, 2021

Man, I’ve undervalued the Bengals. Burrow 2 Chase is already one of the best combos in the league. They took apart a very good Ravens tm today.

— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) October 24, 2021

The Bengals have gone into Pittsburgh AND Baltimore and taken them both behind the woodshed.

Go head and marinate on that for a minute.

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) October 24, 2021

The Bengals now move atop the NFC North at 5-2 and are 2-0 in the division, while the Ravens drop to 5-2 and are 0-1 in divisional matchups. 

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Key Stats

Joe Burrow, CIN: 23-of-38 for 416 yards, three touchdowns and one interception

Ja'Marr Chase, CIN: Eight catches for 201 yards and a score

C.J. Uzomah, CIN: Three catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns

Lamar Jackson, BAL: 15-of-31 for 257 yards and a score; 12 rushes for 88 yards

Marquise Brown, BAL: Five catches for 80 yards and a touchdown

Rashond Bateman, BAL: Three catches for 80 yards

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Ja'Marr Chase Is a Bona Fide Superstar

Just give him the Offensive Rookie of the Year award now. If he stays healthy, it's a done deal. 

Ja'Marr Chase = Runaway leader for OROY.

What a freaking phenom.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 24, 2021

Ja’Marr Chase has more receiving yards through his first seven games than any player in NFL history. He’s at 720+ with a quarter left to go and only two other players have topped 600.

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) October 24, 2021

Ja’Marr Chase man…wow. Not surprising, but wow. Beast.

— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) October 24, 2021

And maybe in 2/3 years the discussion is different. But right now it’s not even close.

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) October 24, 2021

Chase went absolutely nuclear against a good Ravens defense and two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey, in just his seventh NFL game. That's special. 

Chase does just about everything you'd want in a wide receiver. He goes across the middle. He makes tough catches. He can beat you deep or after the catch. He's a complete player. 

JA'MARR CHASE CANNOT BE STOPPED. #RuleTheJungle

📺: #BALvsCIN on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/CUraDu6WvG

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2021

Oh, and he's 21 years old. He's only going to get better. He's already one of the game's brightest young stars. 

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For the Second Time in Three Weeks, the Ravens Secondary Got Torched

In Week 5, Carson Wentz threw for 402 yards and two touchdowns against Baltimore's defense. Burrow kept that trend going Sunday. 

It's a troubling sign for the Ravens, especially with Jackson and the Ravens offense unable to keep pace. And one of the concerns coming out of Week 7 will be the number of big plays Baltimore gave up against the Bengals:

Uzomah doubles up on #NationalTightEndsDay! #RuleTheJungle @cj_uzomah

📺: #CINvsBAL on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/fCgVvs1hrw

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2021

The Ravens gave up five touchdown drives to the Bengals -- all of which were fewer than 5 plays.

This is the 4th time since 2000 a team has scored five touchdowns in a game on drives of fewer than 5 plays.

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 24, 2021

The Ravens are the 3rd team all-time to allow three 400-yard passers in the first 7 games of a season, according to @EliasSports.

Baltimore joins the 2013 Cowboys and 2018 Chiefs.

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 24, 2021

The Ravens get a bye week to get healthier and get the defense back on track. They certainly need it. 

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What's Next?

The Bengals travel to the Meadowlands to face the Jets next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. The Ravens head into their bye week. 

After Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow took a huge hit in his game against the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers advised him afterward to slide more:

"I'm a Joe Burrow fan & I enjoy the way he goes about his business.. I told em after the game he's TOO damn talented JUST SLIDE" ~@AaronRodgers12 on playing against @JoeyB for the first time pic.twitter.com/gxFYX0Epqn

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 12, 2021

Rodgers also told the Pat McAfee Show that he enjoyed watching Burrow play at LSU.

Burrow and Rodgers battled Sunday in a back-and-forth game that ended with a 25-22 overtime win for Green Bay. The quarterbacks combined for 625 passing yards and four touchdowns in a matchup of two teams that entered with a 3-1 record.

Burrow did have a scary moment during the game when he was hit hard while scrambling. The quarterback remained in the game but was taken to a hospital afterwards to check for a possible throat contusion before being released.

That's what Rodgers offered him advice about when the two spoke after the game (h/t Andrew Joseph of For The Win):

I will tell you the thing that I told him, which I’ve told other quarterbacks from time to time: Slide. Slide. I said, ‘You’re too damn talented, you got so much in front of you to accomplish in this league. Just sometimes you gotta slide. I would’ve said the same thing to Andrew (Luck). You know, Andrew initially got hurt in Indy being Superman and running guys over and stuff.

Burrow also suffered a torn ACL last year that ended his rookie season after 10 games.

The Bengals can only hope their franchise quarterback heeds this advice moving forward.  

The Cincinnati Bengals will reportedly sign running back Elijah Holyfield to their practice squad, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Georgia product is the son of former boxing heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

Holyfield spent the preseason with the Philadelphia Eagles but was waived before the start of the year. He also visited the Baltimore Ravens amid their injuries in the backfield, although the team decided to sign veterans Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman.

A 4-star recruit out of high school, per 247 Sports, Holyfield spent much of his college career in a loaded backfield at Georgia. In 2017, he finished fourth on the team in rushing behind Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and D'Andre Swift.

The running back got a bigger chance in 2018, splitting time with Swift while finishing with 1,018 rushing yards and seven touchdowns and averaging 6.4 yards per attempt.

Holyfield went undrafted, although he showed some potential in the 2021 preseason while averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Cincinnati will hope he can add some depth at running back behind Joe Mixon, Samaje Perine and rookie sixth-round pick Chris Evans.    

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters quarterback Joe Burrow is in "good shape" after he was hospitalized for a throat contusion he suffered during Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The hospital trip was precautionary after he was having difficulty speaking, and Burrow is expected to play in the team's upcoming game against the Detroit Lions.

The second-year quarterback gave the Bengals a scare when he took a hard hit during Sunday's loss. He didn't miss a snap and was released from the hospital later that night after being cleared by doctors.

Any injury is enough for concern regarding Burrow, who missed the final six games of the 2020 season after suffering a torn ACL.

The 2020 No. 1 overall draft pick is expected to be the team's franchise quarterback and has showcased his upside throughout his time on the field.

Through five games in 2021, Burrow has thrown for 1,269 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions.