From the Cincy Enquirer:
"The Bengals (1-8-1) will be without four starters - two apiece on offense and defense - as well as a top backup tonight at AFC North-leading Pittsburgh (7-3).
On offense, starting left tackle Levi Jones (back) and left guard Andrew Whitworth (ankle) are out, as is No. 2 left guard Scott Kooistra (knee). Rookie Anthony Collins and Nate Livings will make their first NFL starts.
With three regular offensive linemen unavailable, the Bengals signed first-year tackle Dennis Roland off their practice squad Wednesday and placed receiver Antonio Chatman, who has a spinal cord contusion, on the season-ending injured reserve list. Roland and Andrew Crummey - neither of whom has played in a regular-season NFL game - will be backups behind a starting five of Collins at left tackle, Livings at left guard, Eric Ghiaciuc at center, Bobbie Williams and right guard and Stacy Andrews at right tackle.
The Bengals will face a Steelers team ranked first in the NFL in total defense, rush defense and pass defense.
Crummey is a rookie from Maryland who was waived Aug. 30 by Washington. The Bengals claimed him off the Redskins' practice squad.
Roland was signed to the roster from the Bengals' practice squad and previously was on practice squads in Tampa Bay and Dallas.
On the Bengals' defense, right end Antwan Odom, who has a shoulder injury, will miss his second game in a row, further limiting an already weak pass rush. Safety Chinedum Ndukwe, who has a foot injury, also is out.
Frostee Rucker will start again in Odom's place. Chris Crocker is expected to fill in for Ndukwe."
They are down to their practice squad LG and an untested rookie protecting Fitzpatrick's blind side. Who plays against that side of the line? JAMES HARRISON!
This unit gave up 8 sacks last week against the Eagles and gave up 7 sacks a few weeks ago during their first game with the Steelers when they were healthy.
This is the kind of game where QBs get hurt. Fitzpatrick is going to be on the receiving end of a lot of big hits tonight.
While the Bengals defense has looked much better in recent weeks, their offense won't be able to do much tonight with a line being held together with chicken wire and duct tape.
Pick: Steelers -11
"The Bengals (1-8-1) will be without four starters - two apiece on offense and defense - as well as a top backup tonight at AFC North-leading Pittsburgh (7-3).
On offense, starting left tackle Levi Jones (back) and left guard Andrew Whitworth (ankle) are out, as is No. 2 left guard Scott Kooistra (knee). Rookie Anthony Collins and Nate Livings will make their first NFL starts.
With three regular offensive linemen unavailable, the Bengals signed first-year tackle Dennis Roland off their practice squad Wednesday and placed receiver Antonio Chatman, who has a spinal cord contusion, on the season-ending injured reserve list. Roland and Andrew Crummey - neither of whom has played in a regular-season NFL game - will be backups behind a starting five of Collins at left tackle, Livings at left guard, Eric Ghiaciuc at center, Bobbie Williams and right guard and Stacy Andrews at right tackle.
The Bengals will face a Steelers team ranked first in the NFL in total defense, rush defense and pass defense.
Crummey is a rookie from Maryland who was waived Aug. 30 by Washington. The Bengals claimed him off the Redskins' practice squad.
Roland was signed to the roster from the Bengals' practice squad and previously was on practice squads in Tampa Bay and Dallas.
On the Bengals' defense, right end Antwan Odom, who has a shoulder injury, will miss his second game in a row, further limiting an already weak pass rush. Safety Chinedum Ndukwe, who has a foot injury, also is out.
Frostee Rucker will start again in Odom's place. Chris Crocker is expected to fill in for Ndukwe."
They are down to their practice squad LG and an untested rookie protecting Fitzpatrick's blind side. Who plays against that side of the line? JAMES HARRISON!
This unit gave up 8 sacks last week against the Eagles and gave up 7 sacks a few weeks ago during their first game with the Steelers when they were healthy.
This is the kind of game where QBs get hurt. Fitzpatrick is going to be on the receiving end of a lot of big hits tonight.
While the Bengals defense has looked much better in recent weeks, their offense won't be able to do much tonight with a line being held together with chicken wire and duct tape.
Pick: Steelers -11