The Cincinnati Bengals continue to face setbacks, with another key player now out for the season due to injury. Offensive lineman Jaxson Kirkland will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn biceps in the team’s Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. This comes right after starting cornerback Dax Hill was sidelined for the year with a torn ACL. Kirkland, who joined the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2023, had recently made his way into the lineup, appearing in the last two games.
In response to these injuries, the Bengals signed offensive lineman Andrew Stueber to fill the gap left by Kirkland’s absence. This marks the second player Cincinnati lost for the season during the game against the Ravens. They were already dealing with the absence of offensive tackle Trent Brown, who is out with a torn patellar tendon, and defensive end Cam Sample, who suffered an Achilles tear before the season even began.
These season-ending injuries add to a long list of setbacks for the Bengals, who are already dealing with a series of shorter-term injuries impacting their roster. Though injuries are a common challenge in football, they have hit the Bengals particularly hard this season, contributing to their disappointing 1-4 start.
Despite the tough situation, the Bengals still have a chance to turn their season around. They’ll need their backup players to step up and perform at a high level if they want to make a comeback. Although a 1-4 start rarely leads to a playoff appearance, it’s not impossible, so the team has a slim chance to recover and make a push.
