It’s been an NFL season like no other, but on Sunday Feb 13th, the Bengals and Rams will meet in Los Angeles to determine the 2021 NFL Champion.
With two weeks off between the Conference Championship and the Super Bowl, both teams are getting healthier, but there are still a number of issues that could come into play.
Here’s a breakdown of all the injury and COVID-19 storylines heading into Super Bowl 56:
Cincinnati Bengals Injury Report, Super Bowl 56
| Player | Position | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cam Sample
|
EDGE | Groin | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
C.J. Uzomah
|
TE | Knee | DNP | LP | FP | Questionable |
|
Josh Tupou
|
DT | Knee | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Stanley Morgan
|
WR | Hamstring | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Jackson Carman
|
G | Back | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
– After injuring his MCL in the AFC Championship Game, C.J. Uzomah seems to be on track to play in the Super Bowl despite the questionable designation he carries into the weekend.
The tight end was fourth on the team in targets and receptions during the regular season and contributed 13 catches for 135 yards during the first two rounds of the playoffs before getting injured just nine snaps into the Conference Championship.
Drew Sample is the next tight end on the depth chart, but he’s hardly a receiving threat, catching multiple passes just three three times this season and never earning more than 36 yards in a game.
– Right guard remains a curious situation for Cincinnati, but rookie Jackson Carman will be available to play. Carman split time with Hakeem Adeniji against Kansas City and both players struggled mightily.
Adenji started against the Chiefs and allowed three pressures, earning a pass-blocking grade of 1.8 from Pro Football Focus. If that wasn’t bad enough, Carman allowed six pressures and received a pass-blocking grade of 0.1 for his efforts.
Luckily for the Bengals, Aaron Donald doesn’t line up over the right guard much, playing no more than 10 snaps at left defensive tackle in any game since Week 10.
Bengals Injured Reserve List
| Player | Position | Date Added | Injury | Eligible to Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Ogunjobi | DT | 01/17/2022 | Foot | N/A |
| Joe Bachie | LB | 12/21/2021 | Knee | Playoffs |
| Riley Reiff | T | 12/16/2021 | Ankle | Week 18 |
| Darius Phillips | DB | 12/14/2021 | Shoulder | Week 18 |
| Auden Tate | WR | 12/04/2021 | Calf | Week 16 |
| Akeem Davis | LB | 11/09/2021 | Foot | Week 14 |
| Brandon Wilson | DB | 11/09/2021 | Knee | Week 14 |
| Jordan Evans | LB | 10/11/2021 | Knee | Week 9 |
| Joseph Ossai | DE | 08/31/2021 | Knee | N/A |
Bengals players on the COVID-19 List
| Player | Position | Positive Test? | Date Added | Date Removed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Joe Bachie
|
LB | Yes | 1/20/22 | 1/28/22 |
|
Larry Ogunjobi
|
DT | Yes | 1/6/22 | 1/10/22 |
|
B.J. Hill
|
DT | Yes | 1/5/22 | 1/10/22 |
|
Joe Mixon
|
RB | Yes | 1/5/22 | 1/10/22 |
|
Vonn Bell
|
DB | Yes | 1/4/22 | 1/10/22 |
|
Akeem Davis
|
LB | Yes | 1/4/22 | 1/20/22 |
|
Trey Hendrickson
|
DE | Yes | 1/4/22 | 1/10/22 |
|
Trey Hopkins
|
C | Yes | 1/4/22 | 1/10/22 |
|
Quinton Spain
|
G | Yes | 1/4/22 | 1/10/22 |
|
Trenton Irwin
|
WR | Yes | 12/31/21 | 1/5/22 |
|
Trae Waynes
|
DB | Yes | 12/31/21 | 1/5/22 |
|
Germaine Pratt
|
LB | Yes | 12/29/21 | 1/1/22 |
|
Auden Tate
|
WR | Yes | 12/28/21 | 1/3/22 |
|
Brandon Allen
|
QB | Yes | 12/27/21 | 1/1/22 |
|
Darius Phillips
|
DB | Yes | 12/27/21 | 1/3/22 |
|
Wyatt Ray
|
DE | Yes | 12/25/21 | 12/30/21 |
|
D.J. Reader
|
DT | Yes | 12/25/21 | 12/30/21 |
|
Mike Thomas
|
WR | Yes | 12/24/21 | 12/29/21 |
|
Chidobe Awuzie
|
CB | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/25/21 |
|
Clay Johnston
|
LB | Yes | 12/13/21 | 12/21/21 |
|
Mitchell Wilcox
|
TE | Yes | 11/15/21 | 11/25/21 |
|
Chidobe Awuzie
|
CB | Yes | 11/10/21 | 11/12/21 |
|
Markus Bailey
|
LB | Yes | 11/9/21 | 11/18/21 |
|
Jackson Carmine
|
G | Yes | 10/11/21 | 10/15/21 |
|
Samaje Perine
|
RB | Yes | 10/11/21 | 10/21/21 |
Los Angeles Rams Injury Report, Super Bowl 56
| Player | Position | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Joe Noteboom
|
OL | Chest | DNP | LP | (-) | Moved to IR |
|
Cam Akers
|
RB | Shoulder | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Christian Rozeboom
|
LB | Elbow | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Tyler Higbee
|
TE | Knee | DNP | DNP | (-) | Moved to IR |
|
Grant Haley
|
DB | Quadricep | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Taylor Rapp
|
S | Concussion | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Van Jefferson
|
WR | Knee | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Jalen Ramsey
|
DB | Shoulder | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Andrew Whitworth
|
OL | Quadricep | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
– Darrell Henderson Jr. will play for the first time since Week 16 after spending time on the IR with a sprained MCL. Los Angeles has relied on Cam Akers and Sony Michel in the postseason, with mixed results. Akers is averaging less than three yards per carry on 54 postseason totes and Michel has 70 yards from scrimmage on 27 touches of his own.
Henderson led the Rams’ backs with 4.6 yards per carry and 12.4 carries per game in the regular season. Sean McVay may still lean on Akers and Michel if Henderson’s knee isn’t 100-percent, but neither guy has performed well enough to keep Henderson off the field if healthy.
– The biggest absence on Sunday will be Tyler Higbee, who was moved to the Injured Reserve on Saturday afternoon. In the regular season, Cincinnati allowed the fourth-most catches and fifth-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends.
With Higbee out, Kendall Blanton will be the Rams’ starting tight end with Brycen Hopkins sliding into the backup slot. Blanton had just four catches for 37 yards in two years with the Rams, but has broken out in the postseason, earning seven catches for 75 yards in the last two games.
– Joe Noteboom was also moved to the IR due to a chest injury, but he was relegated to a backup role once Andrew Whitworth was healthy enough to retake his left tackle spot.
If Whitworth’s quad gives him trouble again, Bobby Evans might be the top backup option. The third-year player made two starts at left guard in the postseason last year, allowing five pressures and a sack.
– Sebastian Joseph-Day was activated off the IR and is expected to suit up for the first time since Week 7. The defensive tackle had a career-high three sacks this season despite missing all that time.
Joseph-Day will slide in behind Donald and Greg Gaines on the interior against a porous Cincinnati offensive line that has allowed seven sacks to opposing interior linemen this postseason.
Rams Injured Reserve List
| Player | Position | Date Added | Injury | Eligible to Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Noteboom | OL | 02/11/2022 | Chest | N/A |
| Tyler Higbee | TE | 02/11/2022 | Knee | N/A |
| Jordan Fuller | DB | 01/12/2022 | Ankle | Super Bowl |
| Ernest Jones | LB | 12/28/2021 | Ankle | Playoffs |
| Robert Rochell | DB | 12/11/2021 | Chest | Week 17 |
| Robert Woods | WR | 11/24/2021 | Knee | Week 15 |
| Jacob Harris | WR | 11/09/2021 | Knee | Week 14 |
| Chatarius Atwell | WR | 11/02/2021 | Shoulder | Week 13 |
| Andre Mintze | LB | 10/19/2021 | Hamstring | Week 10 |
| Tremayne Anchrum | OG | 09/02/2021 | Knee | Week 4 |
Rams players on the COVID-19 List
| Player | Position | Positive Test? | Date Added | Date Removed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Raymond Calais
|
RB | Yes | 12/29/21 | 1/3/22 |
|
Andrew Whitworth
|
T | Yes | 12/25/21 | 12/30/21 |
|
Joseph Noteboom
|
OL | Yes | 12/18/21 | 12/28/21 |
|
Robert Rochell
|
DB | Yes | 12/18/21 | 12/20/21 |
|
Jamil Demby
|
OL | Yes | 12/17/21 | 12/22/21 |
|
Grant Haley
|
DB | Yes | 12/17/21 | 12/19/21 |
|
Justin Lawler
|
LB | Yes | 12/17/21 | 12/28/21 |
|
Tyler Higbee
|
TE | Yes | 12/17/21 | 12/24/21 |
|
Tremayne Anchrum Jr.
|
T | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/20/21 |
|
Antoine Brooks Jr.
|
DB | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/23/21 |
|
Bobby Evans
|
G | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/20/21 |
|
Jake Grevase
|
LB | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/23/21 |
|
Von Miller
|
LB | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/21/21 |
|
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
|
LB | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/22/21 |
|
Kareem Orr
|
DB | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/19/21 |
|
Troy Reeder
|
LB | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/20/21 |
|
Christian Rozeboom
|
LB | Yes | 12/16/21 | 12/21/21 |
|
Jordan Fuller
|
DB | Yes | 12/15/21 | 12/24/21 |
|
Justin Hollins
|
LB | Yes | 12/15/21 | 12/18/21 |
|
John Mundt
|
TE | Yes | 12/15/21 | 12/23/21 |
|
Tyler Hall
|
DB | Yes | 12/15/21 | 12/22/21 |
|
Jared Pinkney
|
TE | Yes | 12/15/21 | 12/22/21 |
|
Odell Beckham Jr.
|
WR | Yes | 12/14/21 | 12/18/21 |
|
Terrell Burgess
|
DB | Yes | 12/14/21 | 12/22/21 |
|
Brycen Hopkins
|
TE | Yes | 12/14/21 | 12/18/21 |
|
Juju Hughes
|
DB | Yes | 12/14/21 | 12/23/21 |
|
Alaric Jackson
|
T | Yes | 12/14/21 | 12/18/21 |
|
Sebastian Joseph-Day
|
DT | Yes | 12/14/21 | 12/22/21 |
|
Jonah Williams
|
DE | Yes | 12/14/21 | 12/22/21 |
|
Tyler Higbee
|
TE | Yes | 12/13/21 | 12/14/21 |
|
Jalen Ramsey
|
CB | Yes | 12/13/21 | 12/19/21 |
|
Rob Havenstein
|
T | Yes | 12/13/21 | 12/22/21 |
|
Dont’e Deayton
|
DB | Yes | 12/13/21 | 12/18/21 |
|
Darrell Henderson
|
RB | Yes | 12/11/21 | 12/18/21 |
|
Chris Garrett
|
LB | Undisclosed | 9/2/21 | 9/21/21 |
|
Coleman Shelton
|
G | Undisclosed | 8/31/21 | 9/10/21 |
|
Johnny Hekker
|
P | Undisclosed | 8/21/21 | 9/2/21 |
|
Tutu Atwell
|
WR | Undisclosed | 7/26/21 | 8/4/21 |
