Zac Taylor provides latest update on Amarius Mims' ankle injury following Bengals' win over Browns

Two ankle injuries caused plenty at Paycor Stadium to hold their breath during the Cincinnati Bengals' 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns. Wide receiver Tee Higgins was able to come back into the game after suffering his, but rookie right tackle Amarius Mims didn't return after suffering his.Cincinnati's offense felt the impact of losing Mims […]

John Sheeran Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google

Two ankle injuries caused plenty at Paycor Stadium to hold their breath during the Cincinnati Bengals' 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns. Wide receiver Tee Higgins was able to come back into the game after suffering his, but rookie right tackle Amarius Mims didn't return after suffering his.

Cincinnati's offense felt the impact of losing Mims for most of the second half. The unit only scored one garbage-time touchdown thanks to a free play provided by Myles Garrett, who otherwise had a productive day generating pressure against a banged up Bengals offensive line. 

Mims, whose college career was defined by an ankle injury, now becomes the center of the biggest question surrounding the Bengals entering another must-win week.

Amarius Mims Injury Update

While Mims did not return to the field after playing 34 snaps on Sunday, head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after the game that putting his 22-year old tackle back in was a possibility that just didn't materialize. 

"I think it was kind of hit or miss whether he could go back in there," Taylor said. "And so we'll see where he's at tomorrow."

youtube placeholder image

Mims entered the blue tent on the Bengals' sideline late in the second quarter for his ankle injury. He was then seeing having what looked to be a heated exchange with offensive line coach Frank Pollack, prompting Taylor and Orlando Brown Jr. to intervene and calm him down.

"That's football, man," Taylor said of the exchange. "It's not all easy. Sometimes you just got to work through that stuff. We're good."

Mims would return at the start of the third quarter but then left the game and was listed as questionable to return by the team. He did not return.

Without Mims and Brown, the Bengals were down both starting tackles and struggled to protect Joe Burrow. The Browns sacked Burrow three times and had four pass rushers with a pass rush win rate of at least 20% per Pro Football Focus with Cody Ford and Devin Cochran protecting the edge of the pocket.

Brown missed his third consecutive game this week and only practiced once last week. If he misses another game and Mims' ankle keeps him out for the next week, the Bengals may be forced to start Ford and Cochran against the Denver Broncos on Saturday. Denver's pass rush is led by the duo of Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, whom have a combined 19.5 sacks this season. 

How Mims' ankle feels in the next few days may be huge for the Bengals' remaining playoff chances.