Scouting report: Bengals visit Steelers in NFL Week 16

by Christina "Tina" Rivers (3Rivers_Writer) on December 20, 2023

Steel City Underground will provide fans in Steelers Nation a pre-game scouting report of each of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents during each week of the 2023 NFL regular season, comprised of items from top storylines and insights.

Two days before Christmas, the Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) will visit Acrisure Stadium to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16 of the 2023 NFL regular season. In the two AFC North rivals’ matchup in Cincinnati, the Steelers won, 16-10 (Week 12). With division bragging rights and playoff seeding on the line, the upcoming game is expected to be another tough fight on the turf. We look at the top storylines and insights surrounding the Bengals ahead of the December 23rd game.

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Ja’Marr Chase status

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that Chase, a key wideout in their offense, suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, giving him a status of day to day.

Taylor would not make a definitive comment about the official status of the receiver, though, just one day after social media reports said Chase would miss the game against the Steelers.

An official declaration may not be made on Chase’s game status until absolutely necessary in a move of gamesmanship with Taylor keeping things close to the vest.

Zac Taylor speaks to the media ahead of Week 16. https://t.co/l0KYEmAwvf

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 19, 2023

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Injury update

The Bengals are dealing with the loss of a few players, as are the Steelers. The most notable injury note for Cincinnati is the loss of defensive captain D.J. Reader due to a torn quadricep tendon suffered during the Week 15 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

“It’s unfortunate for DJ, unfortunate for all of us because he’s such a big part of all of us. It’s a killer to see something like that happen to him.” – Zac Taylor

Reader is a major factor in the locker room and in helping the Bengals defend the run. The Bengals could call on Jay Tufele to play a bigger role on Saturday as a result of Reader heading to injured/reserved.

Rookie cornerback D.J. Ivey, a seventh-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, is out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL (knee). Ivey had been utilized mainly on special teams but defensive backs coach Charles Burks had been giving the young player more opportunities in the secondary prior to the injury.

The official injury report will be a key item for fans to keep an eye on as the week progresses towards kickoff in Pittsburgh.

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Browning on revenge tour?

Quarterback Jake Browning took delight in the victory over the Vikings. “They shouldn’t have (expletive) cut me,” he said following the win. Browning had been with Minnesota earlier in his career.

When he got his first NFL start with the Bengals in Week 12 against the Steelers, he and the team weren’t victorious. Browning has shown a level of confidence that suggests he may be on tour to get revenge in Pittsburgh.

Jake Browning speaks to the media ahead of Week 16. https://t.co/nTnJwxWNdc

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 19, 2023

The Steelers will be making some major personnel changes in their defense, especially at interior linebacker and the defensive backfield. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will not play Saturday, safety Damontae Kazee was suspended by the league (and is appealing the decision) for the remainder of the season.

If Browning can stay hot, he’ll challenge Pittsburgh by utilizing every tool in his box to give Cincinnati another win as the regular season winds down.

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