Joe Burrow and the Bengals lost another key piece to their offensive line in Week 18 when right guard Alex Cappa suffered an ankle injury. His absence could further weaken a Cincinnati line that is already without La’el Collins.
In a news conference Monday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said it would be tough for Cappa to return against the Ravens for Sunday’s wild-card playoff game in Cincinnati.
With the Bengals hurting and Lamar Jackson’s potential return looming, the pressure is on Cincinnati.
Cappa’s impact on the offense cannot be understated. In the offseason, the former Buccaneer joined an O-line that was in dire need of help. In his first year with the team, Cappa stepped up in a big way, allowing only three sacks in 1,086 offensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Burrow and fellow lineman Ted Karras are confident in second-stringer Max Scharping’s ability, but the loss of Cappa clearly hurts.
With Cincinnati missing two starters, count on Baltimore’s recharged pass rush, led by Calais Campbell, Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul, to go after Burrow.
The acquisition of linebacker Roquan Smith from Chicago bolstered Baltimore’s run and pass defense, and rookie Kyle Hamilton continues to grow at safety.
The return of Jackson at quarterback would be enormous for the Ravens. They went 8-4 with him and 2-3 without him. Jackson’s return coupled with an offensive line in flux could make life difficult for Burrow and Cincy and potentially lead to more hits the Bengals don’t like.
Following the Week 18 win over Baltimore, Bengals players complained to The Athletic reporter Jay Morrison about the Ravens playing dirty.
With an important O-lineman out, the defending AFC champs could face a much stiffer test than many expect.
