The Cincinnati Bengals are still alive in the playoff race, though not without some must-know details for context.
While the Bengals took care of business with a win over the Minnesota Vikings, the rest of the AFC didn’t do much to help their postseason aspirations, creating a complicated picture.
And while they took care of that business, they lost several key players in the process — headlined by star wideout JaMarr Chase.
Add in some other things like the continued hot streak for Jake Browning and it makes for a pretty busy mid-December news outlook.
Here’s a look at the must-know Bengals news, notes and quotes for December 18.
Ja'Marr Chase injury update
It sounds like the Bengals avoided the worst-case scenario. While there’s nothing concrete about whether he will play against the Steelers next week, Chase appears to be day-to-day despite a shoulder injury that quickly ruled him out over the weekend.
Playoff standings
The good news? The Bengals won, moving to 8-6 and sitting with the sixth seed in the playoffs. The bad news? The team still only has a 30 percent chance of actually making the playoffs.
Jake Browning drug tested
The NFL’s “random” drug-testing process has reached Browning, right after his third straight win.
DJ Reader out for year
A massive injury and setback for Reader, the team’s best defensive player who is also scheduled to be a free agent this offseason.
Browning explains why win was personal -- Bengals.com
Browning revealed that treatment by the Vikings was a big motivator for him: “Yeah. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not a good feeling. It’s much better than losing. I think the emotional roller coaster is part of the game, and part of that is just me staying even keel. There was definitely a little extra part (to this game). I remember getting cut there (Minnesota) the last time, and just being told, ‘Hey, we might have a spot for you on the practice squad. Go to the hotel and wait.’ So, I sat in the hotel for a couple of hours not knowing if I had a job or not, and just basically got a call from my agent. They didn’t tell me. I had been there for two years. I’ve been cut my fair share of times, and that was probably the (crappiest) one. There was a little bit more (to this game) this week. I know I denied it, and there are some great people over there. It’s completely different (now) — a completely different coaching staff and everything — and I want to emphasize that there are some incredible people over there, but that one (today’s win) felt good. I think, right after we made the field goal to win the game, I screamed at a camera and said, ‘They never should have cut me!'”
Zac Taylor on Browning
The Bengals head coach on what has helped his backup quarterback succeed: “Jake’s just so steady, you know? He really is. He doesn’t get rattled by a negative play. He doesn’t overreact to it. The interception is just a great example. In his fourth-ever career start, he throws a pick — I think it was cover two and the cornerback just played games with him to try and bait him to throw it over the top — and the next play, he came right back the next drive and throws a touchdown. That’s what you want to see from your quarterback — a guy who doesn’t get too high or too low. He’s able to move on, and that’s exactly what he did.”
