Bengals Fire DC Teryl Austin
The Bengals fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. For now, head coach Marvin Lewis will assume the Bengals’ defensive coordinator responsibilities, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
On Sunday, the Bengals suffered a 51-14 loss at the hands of the Saints. Even without wide receiver Cameron Meredith, the Saints went off for 509 offensive yards and 44 unanswered points after the game was knotted up at 7-7. This was the third straight game in which the Bengals allowed over 500 yards and Austin has been blamed for the defense’s shortcomings.
For the last two years, Austin has been in the mix for head coaching jobs around the league. This year, he pushed for the Lions to promote him from defensive coordinator to head coach after Jim Caldwell was fired, but the team was dead set on hiring Matt Patricia. When that became apparent to Austin, he hooked on with the Bengals to serve under Lewis.
Now, Austin’s time in Cincinnati is up after just one year. And, fair or not, Austin is now even further away from getting his big break as a head coach.
The Bengals are now 5-4, meaning that their playoff hopes are alive, though they have some ground to make up if they hope to beat out the 6-2-1 Steelers for the AFC North crown.
Kirkpatrick Has Concussion
- The Bengals were demolished by the Saints at home today, and their already injury depleted defense got even more bad news. Starting cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick was ruled out for the game with a concussion and is currently in the concussion protocol, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Bengals are already down multiple starters on defense, so they can’t afford to be without Kirkpatrick.
Latest On A.J. Green
- One name who could be part of the Ravens‘ above-referenced overhaul, of course, is quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco is battling a hip injury and has been spotted on crutches, though Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network describes the injury as more of a day-to-day malady than a week-to-week one (video link). So if Flacco can practice when the Ravens return to the field in a couple of days — they are on a bye this week — he will likely play. But Rapoport says Baltimore is “relishing” the uncertainty that the situation is creating for the team’s next opponent, the Bengals, and he expects first-round pick Lamar Jackson to get increased snaps whether Flacco plays or not.
- Rapoport tweets that Bengals WR A.J. Green is “likely” to miss next week’s game against the Ravens, though there is a chance he will be able to suit up. That is a rosier outlook than the one presented by Schefter, who said earlier this week that Green will definitely miss the Ravens game and could miss multiple games after that. Schefter doubled down on that report today, saying that a December return is looking increasingly likely (Twitter link). Rapoport says 2018 seventh-rounder Auden Tate, who was waived last month but who was signed to the practice squad just one day later, has impressed and will see plenty of snaps in Green’s absence. Tate was promoted from the practice squad on Monday.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/5/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. All links go to Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan Twitter account, unless otherwise noted.
Cleveland Browns
- T Isaiah Battle, K Jon Brown, RB Josh Ferguson, K Sam Ficken, CB Dontae Johnson, K Marshall Koehn, K Younghoe Koo, K Tyler Rausa, LS Zach Triner, P Ryan Winslow (Twitter links via Caplan and NFL reporter Howard Balzer
Cincinnati Bengals
- QB Connor Cook, WR Chad Hansen, WR Korey Robertson, TE Andrew Vollert (Twitter link via Balzer)
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
- WR Aaron Burbridge, WR Brice Butler (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- LB Marquis Flowers (link)
Oakland Raiders
- RB Travaris Cadet, DE Kony Ealy, DE Terrence Fede, RB Jeremy Langford, DE Ryan Russell, RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (link)
Philadelphia Eagles
- DT T.Y. McGill (link)
A.J. Green Won’t Need Foot Surgery
Coming out of their bye, the 5-3 Bengals appear in “If the season ended today” playoff graphics. But their top weapon’s status is a concern heading into Week 10.
A.J. Green‘s toe injury prompted a visit with foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, but Marvin Lewis said Monday (via the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Paul Dehner Jr.) the eighth-year wide receiver wouldn’t need surgery. However, he’s not out of the woods yet.
Lewis expects Green to return this season, but ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets he’s not expected to be back for a bit. Green will miss the next two Bengals games so doctors can re-evaluate his foot, Schefter adds. And this would be before determining when Green can suit up again. It might be a longer absence. While it’s good news Green won’t need surgery, the Bengals’ offense figures to absorb a significant blow in a playoff race.
Green suffered the injury on the final offensive play of the Week 8 Bengals-Buccaneers game. Lewis didn’t rule out a Green return this week but was not specific when asked about a timetable. The Bengals’ next two games are a home tilt against the surging Saints and a road Ravens matchup. Green, who missed time due to injuries in 2014 and ’16, not being available for those could be critical.
The cornerstone wideout and seven-time Pro Bowler has 45 receptions for 687 yards and six touchdowns this season. The Bengals appear to have found a consistent Green complementary piece in Tyler Boyd (49/620/5), too, but their passing game will certainly be affected without Green. Cincinnati’s already missing tight ends Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft.
Bengals Drop Christian Hackenberg
Former Jets second-round pick Christian Hackenberg is out of work yet again. On Monday, the Bengals released the quarterback from the practice squad and replaced him with fellow signal-caller Connor Cook. The team also signed tight end Andrew Vollert to the ten-man unit. 
[RELATED: Bengals DE Carl Lawson Tears ACL, Done For Season]
Hackenberg, one of Mike Maccagnan‘s most regrettable draft picks, bounced between the Jets, Raiders, and Eagles this offseason. Now in his third year as a pro, he has yet to attempt a pass in the NFL.
Cook, meanwhile, might not be far from a 53-man roster opportunity. Currently, the Bengals are carrying just two QBs in Andy Dalton and Jeff Driskel. Cook represents the only QB on the practice squad and he may be the Bengals’ first choice if another arm is needed.
Bengals Sign LS Clark Harris To Extension
The Bengals have signed long snapper Clark Harris to a two-year-contract extension, according to a team announcement. In other Bengals news, the club promoted wide receiver Auden Tate from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and formally placed linebacker Carl Lawson on injured reserve.
Harris, 34, earned his first Pro Bowl nod last season. He has been with the club since 2009 and boasts a nearly perfect attendance record over the last ten decade.
Tate’s promotion will provide the Bengals with insurance as they await word on A.J. Green‘s toe. Green is relying on the advice of foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson and the club is waiting to find out whether he’ll require surgery. Even if he doesn’t go under the knife, it’s expected that Green will miss some time.
A.J. Green's Status Unclear, Surgery Is An Option
- Bengals WR A.J. Green is battling a toe injury, per Rapoport (via Twitter), who says that Green either has visited or will visit foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson. There will be more clarity on the injury soon, and Rapoport says surgery remains on the table. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets that Green is expected to miss time regardless of whether he has surgery.
Bengals Notes: Hue, Green
A return to the Bengals could make sense for recently-fired Browns head coach Hue Jackson, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com indicates (Twitter link). Jackson is extremely close with Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis, and has previously worked in the Queen City on two occasions, first as wide receivers coach from 2004-06 and then in multiple roles (including offensive coordinator) from 2012-15. The Bengals still have to play the Browns twice this season, so adding Jackson with the intent of gaining intel on Cleveland wouldn’t be out of the question, but Cincinnati could be concerned about forcing incumbent play-caller Bill Lazor to look over his shoulder.
- A.J. Green was in a walking boot following the Bengals‘ Week 8 win over the Buccaneers, and he’s still not “out of the woods,” tweets Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer. It’s unclear exactly what issue is bothering Green, and initial reports suggested the boot was simply precautionary. But the injury has continued to swell, per Dehner, so Cincinnati is putting its star receiver through further tests. The Bengals are on a bye in Week 9 so Green has plenty of time to recover, but any absence would be a massive blow to Cincinnati’s offense as the club continues its push for a playoff spot.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/31/18
Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer:
Cincinnati Bengals
- TE Ben Koyack; FBs Aaron Ripkowski, Shane Smith; DEs Kony Ealy, Ryan Russell; LBs Kasim Edebali, Tyrone Holmes, Aaron Wallace
Green Bay Packers
- RB Ralph Webb
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
- CB Jalen Myrick