Injuries have left both rosters thin, clearing the way for explosive playmakers like Chase Brown and Dohnte Meyers to seize the spotlight in this pivotal AFC showdown.
The Cincinnati Bengals will face off with the Houston Texans in Houston during week two of the NFL season. Both teams are coming in hobbled, with Joe Burrow seemingly not 100%, and the Texans will be without wide receiver Nico Collins, while starting linebacker Henry To’Oto’o will also be out. Jadeveon Clowney and starting guard Ed Ingram also won't play.
There are opportunities for other players to step up given both teams' injury situations.
Bengals RB Chase Brown
The Bengals want to have a better run game. That's why they are going under center more often in addition to concocting more explosive plays through the air. Brown scored in week one, but otherwise had a rather underwhelming week, carrying the ball 16 times for 56 yards.
With Burrow hobbled and a Houston secondary looking to bounce back, Cincinnati could lean more on the running game in week two.
Texans WR Jaylin Noel
Kayshon Boutte is the assumed WR1 in Nico Collins' absence. Jayden Higgins was expected to have a huge year, but tore his ACL early in training camp.
Jaylin Noel had a good week one with two catches on two targets for 53 yards. As Houston searches for receiving help, Noel has the intangibles and explosiveness to have a big day.
Bengals WR Dohnte Meyers
Meyers was the story of training camp for the Bengals after coming over from the CFL for basically a lottery ticket at just making the team. He had one catch for 18 yards as he pushes for that WR3 role alongside Andrei Iosivas. You feel like it’s just a matter of time before he gets into the end zone for the first time, which will be a great moment.
Cincinnati obviously believed in Meyers enough to cut Mitchell Tinsley. I’m expecting Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to bounce back after a quiet week one, but Meyers could get three catches for 50+ yards and a possible score.
Bengals EDGE Cashius Howell
Howell led the Bengals in pressures in week one and may already be better than Myles Murphy. Defensive coordinator Al Golden said near the end of camp that the Bengals already “hit” on Howell, and Week 1 returns proved him right.
This game will be decided in the trenches, and on the road with an offense not running at 100%, the Bengals’ defensive line will probably have to play better than they did in Week 1 to beat a good Texans team.
