Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase said this week that’s he happy to be back to having fun with his teammates after settling his contract issues with the team and he’s having a little more fun on the field on Sunday.
Chase caught a short pass from Joe Burrow, broke a tackle and then rambled 63 yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. The Bengals now lead the Panthers 14-7.
After Chase Brown scored the first touchdown of the game for the Bengals, the Panthers answered with an 11-play, 70-yard drive for a score of their own. Running back Chuba Hubbard scored on a three-yard run and has 13 carries for 47 yards on the day.
Chase’s touchdown is his only catch, but Tee Higgins has five catches for 49 yards so far.
Quarterback Andy Dalton’s second Panthers start is not going as well as his first one.
Dalton was hit by Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson as he tried a third down pass and safety Vonn Bell picked off the fluttering ball. Bell returned the ball to the 16-yard-line and Bengals running back Chase Brown ran three yards for a score a few plays later.
The touchdown made it 7-0 Bengals with five seconds to play in the first quarter.
Dalton’s first drive looked like it would end with points when the Panthers got a first down on the Bengals’ 2-yard-line. They only picked up one more yard on four plays, however, as the Bengals defense never broke after doing a lot of bending.
Every week we bring you all the inactives from the 1 p.m. ET games in one post, constantly updated with the latest information.
The Packers will have quarterback Jordan Love back in the lineup for Sunday’s matchup with their divisional rivals from Minnesota. Love has missed the last two games with the knee injury he suffered in the season opener, but reports this weekend indicated he would be starting against the Vikings and it became official when the team released an inactive list without him on it.
That list did include cornerback Jaire Alexander, however. Alexander has quad and groin injuries that kept him from practicing on Friday and they will also keep him from being part of the team’s attempt to stop Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson.
Vikings at Packers
Vikings: LB Ivan Pace Jr., WR Trishton Jackson, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, T Walter Rouse, CB Fabian Moreau, CB Dwight McGlothern
Packers: CB Jaire Alexander, CB Carrington Valentine, DB Kitan Oladapo, DL Brenton Cox Jr., OL Jordan Morgan, OL Travis Glover, DL Colby Wooden
Broncos at Jets
Broncos: QB Zach Wilson, RB Blake Watson, WR Devaughn Vele, TE Lucas Krull, DL Eyioma Uwazurike, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, S JL Skinner
Jets: LB C.J. Mosley, T Morgan Moses, T Carter Warren, DE Braiden McGregor, DT Leonard Taylor, CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse.
Saints at Falcons
Saints: QB Spencer Rattler, WR A.T. Perry, TE Dallin Holker, G Cesar Ruiz, LB Demario Davis, DT John Ridgeway III
Falcons: DL Brandon Dorlus, OL Jovaughn Gwyn, RB Jase McClellan, T Kaleb McGary, DL Ruke Orhorhoro, OL Brandon Parker
Eagles at Buccaneers
Eagles: WR A.J. Brown, WR DeVonta Smith, T Lane Johnson, QB Tanner McKee, LB Devin White, G Trevor Keegan, DT Byron Young
Buccaneers: P Jake Camarda, TE Devin Culp, T Luke Goedeke, DL Calijah Kancey, WR Jalen McMillan, LB Jose Ramirez, S Antoine Winfield
Bengals at Panthers
Bengals: DT BJ Hill, DT Sheldon Rankins, TE Tanner McLachlan, TE Tanner Hudson
Panthers: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, S Lonnie Johnson, RB Mike Boone, LB Tarron Jackson, G Jarrett Kingston, G Damien Lewis, DT Shy Tuttle
Jaguars at Texans
Jaguars: S Darnell Savage, TE Evan Engram, LB Devin Lloyd, DE Myles Cole, OL Javon Foster, OL Cole Van Lanen, DT Jordan Jefferson
Texans: WR Tank Dell, RB Joe Mixon, RB Dameon Pierce, LB Jamal Hill, G Nick Broeker, S Jimmie Ward
Steelers at Colts
Steelers: QB Russell Wilson, WR Roman Wilson, CB Darius Rush, RB Jaylen Warren, LB Alex Highsmith, G Isaac Seumalo, TE MyCole Pruitt
Colts: DE Genard Avery, QB Sam Ehlinger, T Blake Freeland, WR Anthony Gould, C Ryan Kelly, CB Kenny Moore II, DE Kwity Paye
Rams at Bears
Rams: WR Cooper Kupp, QB Stetson Bennett, RB Cody Schrader, LB Brennan Jackson, OL Geron Christian, DL Desjuan Johnson
Bears: WR/RB Velus Jones, FB Khari Blasingame, CB Terell Smith, OL Bill Murray, DE Dominique Robinson, DT Zacch Pickens
Another hurricane has struck, causing widespread damage in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and beyond. A pair of NFL owners are leading the way when it comes to raising money for hurricane relief.
The Glazer family, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, donated $1 million this morning. This afternoon, Carolina Panthers owners David and Nicole Tepper contributed $3 million.
Hopefully, other sports team owners in the affected region will follow suit. Those owners rely on the public to help support their businesses. At times like this, their businesses should help support the public.
If you want, you can make a donation to the American Red Cross by texting HELENE to 90999.
The storm has killed at least 52 people in five states.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson missed practice with an illness the last two days, but it looks like the Bengals will have him as they try to avoid a fourth straight loss to open the season.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on Friday, via multiple reporters, that Hendrickson is set to play against the Panthers on Sunday after returning to practice. Hendrickson has three sacks over the last two games.
The news isn’t as good for a couple of other defensive linemen in Cincinnati. Taylor said that defensive tackle B.J. Hill is considered doubtful to play due to the hamstring injury that kept him out of last week’s loss to the Commanders.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins also missed that game with a hamstring injury and Taylor said Rankins has been ruled out.
