Bengals’ final injury report for Week 1 confirms two different plans are in store for their top two rookies
The Cincinnati Bengals’ second injury report of the 2026 season is a bit longer than the first. A key starter may’ve suffered a notable injury, and that will have real implications for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ final injury report of Week 1 is almost picture perfect.
Two team captains had rest days Friday, and another practiced enough to avoid any injury designation for Sunday’s season-opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Only one player appears to be at risk of being out, and it has implications for another looking to make his debut.
Bengals’ Friday injury report
| Player | Injury | W/T/F | Designation |
| DT Jonathan Allen | Rest | -/DNP/Full | – |
| WR Ja’Marr Chase | Knee/Rest | Full/Full/DNP | – |
| WR Tee Higgins | Foot | Full/Full/Full | – |
| DT B.J. Hill | Rest | -/Limited/DNP | – |
| DT Dexter Lawrence II | Rest | -/-/DNP | – |
| DE Shemar Stewart | Knee | Full/Limited/DNP | DOUBTFUL |
| CB DJ Turner II | Hamstring | -/Limited/Limited | – |
DJ Turner II looks good to go
DJ Turner II (hamstring) was limited Thursday and then again on Friday, but Cincinnati’s No. 1 cornerback is set to play on Sunday.
Turner popping up with an injury three days before the opener was eye-opening. Tee Higgins (heel) missed the Bengals’ Week 1 game in 2024 due to a hamstring injury suffered right before the game, so the club had been down this road before.
Now that it’s confirmed he’ll be fine, rookie Tacario Davis will not make his first-career start. Cincy’s third-round pick would’ve been next in line at CB along with DJ Ivey. They’ll both be active and ready to go in should something happen to Turner or fellow starters Dax Hill, or Jalen Davis.
Shemar Stewart may not be ready, Cashius Howell is
Defensive end Shemar Stewart (knee) did not practice Friday after being limited after going full Wednesday. Stewart missed an entire month with his hyperextended knee and only returned to practice last week. It is unlikely he will make his season debut on Sunday.
Enter second-round pick Cashius Howell, who’s been preparing as the Bengals’ third edge defender behind starters Myles Murphy and Boye Mafe while Stewart was on the mend. Defensive coordinator Al Golden sounds ready to unleash the rookie.
“Hitting on Cashius, I can’t underscore how important that is because he’s come through for us in terms of his intellect, his work ethic, his ability to process, and his learning curve,” Golden told reporters Monday.
Expect to see plenty of Howell as the game goes on if Stewart is indeed out.
Buccaneers’ Friday injury report
| Player | Injury | W/T/F | Designation |
| OLB Rueben Bain Jr. | Shoulder | Limited/Full/Full | – |
| WR Emeka Egbuka | Toe | Full/Full/Full | – |
| WR Jalen McMillan | Knee | Limited/Limited/Limited | DOUBTFUL |
| LB Christian Rozeboom | Foot | Limited/Limited/Limited | QUESTIONABLE |
| G Billy Schrauth | Knee | Full/Full/Full | – |
| OT Justin Skule | Oblique | Limited/Limited/Limited | DOUBTFUL |
| RB Sean Tucker | Hamstring | DNP/Limited/Limited | DOUBTFUL |
