Bengals right tackle Trent Brown was blocking Commanders defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong when Brown’s knee gave out.
Brown stayed on the ground, grabbing at his right knee, before requiring a cart to get off the field.
The Bengals offensive linemen helped Brown onto the cart, wishing him well before he departed for the X-ray room with 6:25 remaining until halftime.
Rookie Amarius Mims, who had his first NFL snap six plays earlier on a field goal drive, replaces Brown.
The Bengals already have ruled out Brown, a sign that his injury is as serious as it looked.
The Bengals trail the Commanders 14-10.
Austin Ekeler had only 10 carries for 48 yards in the Commanders’ first two games.
He has a 24-yard touchdown tonight.
Ekeler’s run behind Nick Allegretti has given the Commanders a 14-7 lead with 11:31 left in the second quarter.
He has two carries for 32 yards.
The Commanders went 62 yards on seven plays on their second possession after going 70 yards on 10 carries on their opening drive.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is 5-of-6 for 79 yards.
Jayden Daniels was perfect on the Commanders’ first drive, leading the team to a tying touchdown.
The rookie quarterback went 3-for-3 for 52 yards, the first opening possession touchdown the Commanders have had this season.
The big play came on fourth-and-two at the Cincinnati 32 when Daniels connected with Luke McCaffrey for a 30-yard gain before Geno Stone pushed McCaffrey out of bounds at the 2.
After a 1-yard illegal participation penalty on the Bengals, Brian Robinson ran it in from the 1.
Austin Ekeler had one rush for 8 yards and two catches for 22 yards on the 10-play, 70-yard drive.
For the third time in Joe Burrow’s four seasons — and the third consecutive season — the Bengals have started the season 0-2. But Week 3 is when they come alive.
It didn’t take long for that to happen.
Only 3:23 into Monday Night Football, Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase for a 41-yard touchdown. It is Chase’s first touchdown of the season.
He ran by rookie Mike Sainristil for an easy score.
Chase now has two catches for 42 yards as Burrow went 3-for-3 for 50 yards on the six-play, 71-yard opening drive.
The Bengals already had ruled out defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (hamstring). They held out slim hope that they would have defensive tackle B.J. Hill, listing him as doubtful for Monday Night Football.
Hill, though, is among the team’s inactives.
The Bengals will have safety Vonn Bell, who was questionable with a back injury.
Cincinnati’s other inactives are wide receiver Trenton Irwin, offensive lineman Jaxson Kirkland, tight end Tanner McClachlan and tight end Tanner Hudson (knee).
The Commanders’ inactives are defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee), cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (thumb), free safety Darrick Forrest, strong safety Dominique Hampton, quarterback Sam Hartman, offensive guard Chris Paul and running back Colson Yankoff. Hartman will serve as the emergency third quarterback.
