Bengals Texans Inactives Ja'Marr Chase Active

Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans face off, but key players are out. Rookie receivers and backups will need to step up.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans are gearing up for their game today, and there's bound to be some serious excitement as quarterbacks Joe Burrow and CJ Stroud lead their teams into battle.

However, both teams will be without some key players for today's game. Wide receiver Tee Higgins won't be able to play, and with a quick turnaround to face the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football, it's unlikely he'll be available for that game either. This means that we can expect to see Trenton Irwin and rookie Andre Iosivas, along with tight ends Irv Smith Jr. and Tanner Hudson, stepping up to fill the void among the top three receivers.

Additionally, rookie wide receiver Charlie Jones was not activated off injured reserve, but the Bengals did call up wide receivers Stanley Morgan and Shedrick Jackson from the practice squad for the game. On the other hand, Ja'Marr Chase is active for the game despite his back injury, although there's no guarantee of his effectiveness or ability to finish the game.

While the absences of Collins and Pierce are significant for the Bengals' offense, Stroud has shown that he can still perform well even without them. He has established a good rapport with most of the receivers near the top of the depth chart.

For the Texans, the losses of Ward and To'oTo'o are notable for their defense. Both players have been on the field for a significant percentage of snaps this season, and their absence will require their backups to step up and fill their shoes.

However, the return of cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is a positive development for the Bengals. Stingley is making his first appearance since going on injured reserve earlier in the season, and his familiarity with former LSU teammates Chase and Burrow adds an intriguing storyline to the game.

In summary, both teams will be facing challenges due to the absence of key players, but the game promises to be an exciting and competitive matchup.