Bengals make two late additions to Week 15 injury report

Neither Sample nor Carman were on the injury report throughout the week, indicating that they've each contracted an illness of some kind in the last 24 hours. It's unclear if it's the same illness. 

Carman has been a regular healthy scratch for the majority of this season, but Sample has ascended as the most utilized tight end on the roster. The fifth-year player and former second-round pick leads the position group in offensive snaps with 322. 

Sample's role has evolved beyond just an added pass blocker in the backfield. He's become a de facto checkdown option in the passing game, and still handles plenty of inline blocking in the run game. 

If Sample can't go, his niche roles will be tough to fill for the other tight ends. Tanner Hudson has become the primary receiving option at the position, so his role won't change. Irv Smith Jr. isn't asked to block very often either, so it may come down to Mitchell Wilcox to play more snaps in Sample's place.