Sheldon

Rankins

Rankins has missed the previous two games with an illness and will now miss his third straight, denting the Cincinnati run defense in the process. That is less of an issue against a Cowboys team that has struggled to move the football on the ground, but the team will surely miss his services in the trenches.

Rankins is out with an illness and Logan Wilson has a knee injury. Those are both meaningful losses for the Bengals defense, especially against the run from Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

Linebacker Logan Wilson is questionable after being added to the injury report with a knee issue this week. Not that the Steelers needed to be asked twice to run the football, but a handful of injuries to Cincy’s front-seven will do the trick anyway. Wilson leads the Bengals in tackles. Rankins has missed a few games this year, limiting him to one sack and one TFL in seven starts.

Rankins hasn’t played since suffering his hamstring injury in Week 2. His return will be a welcomed one by a Bengals defense that has struggled through the first five weeks of the season. Rankins has totaled seven tackles in the two games he appeared in the season, and should provide an added boost to Cincinnati’s interior line.

The Bengals’ primary slot corner suffered a knee injury in Week 4 versus the Panthers but played through it. That suggests he could suit up this week despite a limited practice regimen. Hilton has 12 combined tackles this year. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins remained sideline for Wednesday’s practice.

Co-interior starter B.J. Hill (hamstring) is listed as doubtful. Both players were sidelined for Week 3 as well. The news signals comfortable maneuvering behind the offensive line for Andy Dalton and Chuba Hubbard in Week 4.

The bigger news is that wide receiver Tee Higgins will make his season debut in Week 3 against the sieve-like pass defense of the Commanders. It doesn’t help the Bengals to have two missing defensive tackles, potentially creating a softer matchup on the ground in the heart of the Bengals defense.

Not ideal for the Bengals considering B.J. Hill is listed as doubtful, creating a massive hole in the front three for Lou Anarumo’s defense. Expect Zach Carter and Jay Tufele to step into increased snaps in the vacated roles.

The Bengals’ pushover run defense is now dealing with a pair of injuries on their interior defensive line. Both Hill and Sheldon Rankins (hamstring) have failed to practice thus far this week. The Commanders will likely attempt to impose their will on the ground if both players are inactive.

Rankins joins one of the better defensive coordinators in today’s game in Lou Anarumo fresh off a six-sack season. The former first-round pick continues to play at a high level along the defensive line now entering his ninth professional season and should lineup alongside Trey Hendrickson on the right side of the formation.