Bengals officially declare starter doubtful for Week 3 game against Steelers while Pittsburgh has many decisions to make
The Cincinnati Bengals have wrapped up their week of practice ahead of their first AFC North showdown of the 2026 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cincy has declared one starter doubtful to play.
The Cincinnati Bengals have wrapped up their week of practice ahead of their first AFC North showdown of the 2026 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Below is Cincinnati’s final injury report of Week 3.
Bengals’ Friday injury report for Week 3
| Player | Injury | W/T/F | Designation |
| DT Jonathan Allen | Knee | DNP/DNP/Full | – |
| DT B.J. Hil | Achilles | DNP/DNP/DNP | DOUBTFUL |
| WR Andrei Iosivas | Thumb | DNP/DNP/DNP | OUT |
| DT Dexter Lawrence II | Rest | -/-/DNP | – |
Defensive tackle B.J. Hill (achilles) is officially doubtful and unlikely to play for a second consecutive week. Hill played in Week 1 but popped up on the injury report last week.
Expect DT Kris Jenkins Jr. to play in Hill’s place once more. There’s an opportunity for rookie DT Landon Robinson to be active for the first time in his career, but the Bengals only went with four interior linemen last week and it would not be surprising to see them go down that route this week.
DT Jonathan Allen (knee) is good to go. Allen missed the first two days of practice after coach Zac Taylor said he would be out Wednesday for “load management.” He was able to practice fully on Friday, giving him the green light for Sunday.
Nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II got his usual Friday rest day. Wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (thumb) is going on the Reserve/Injured list at some point before Sunday’s game. The fourth-year wideout had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb.
Steelers’ Friday injury report for Week 3
| Player | Injury | W/T/F | Designation |
| CB Jamel Dean | Ankle | DNP/Limited/Limited | QUESTIONABLE |
| RB Rico Dowdle | Toe | DNP/DNP/DNP | OUT |
| G Gennings Dunker | Knee | -/Limited/DNP | OUT |
| LB Cole Holcomb | Rest/Personal | DNP/DNP/Full | – |
| WR Michael Pittman Jr. | Foot | Limited/Limited/Limited | QUESTIONABLE |
| CB Joey Porter Jr. | Rest/Conditioning | Limited/Limited/Limited | QUESTIONABLE |
| CB Jalen Ramsey | Rest | DNP/Full/Full | – |
| RB Jaylen Warren | Shoulder | Limited/Limited/Limited | QUESTIONABLE |
Running back Rico Dowdle (toe) and rookie backup guard Gennings Dunker (knee) are the only two Steelers declared out for the game so far.
Cornerback Jamel Dean (ankle) was limited for the second straight day and is one of four players officially questionable. Dean initially injured his ankle in Week 1 and played most of Week 2 with it. He’s been Pittsburgh’s best defensive back through two games.
Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) missed Pittsburgh’s Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots but is questionable for Sunday. CB Joey Porter Jr., who has yet to play this season, and RB Jaylen Warren are also questionable.
