Bengals Injury Report: Cincinnati will have all hands on deck to battle Denver's fierce pass rush

Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (fibula) went full in practice for the second consecutive day and will be good to play first time since Week 13. Brown has missed six of the last seven games with a fibula injury he originally suffered all the way back in Week 7. 

Because of Brown's return, head coach Zac Taylor announced that Cody Ford, who had been playing for Brown at left tackle, will start at left guard this week. Ford started at the position the last time Brown played.

Taylor has said that Ford earned the left guard job due to how he played in relief of Brown. As a result, three-year starter Cordell Volson will act as the first guard off the bench. If Ford starts again in Week 18, we may've seen the last of Volson starting at the position he's manned since 2022. 

The Bengals' offensive line is at full strength at the right time. The Broncos have four starting defensive linemen with at least 40 pressures and pass rush win rates of 12% or higher per Pro Football Focus (the Bengals have just one in comparison). The duo of Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper off the edge have combined for 19.5 sacks this year. They'll get the best the Bengals have to offer in terms of protection because Right tackle Amarius Mims (ankle) is also good to go despite having a broken hand at the moment according to ESPN's Ben Baby.

Edge defender Sam Hubbard (knee), and Sheldon Rankins (illness) aren't going to play and tight end Tanner Hudson (knee) is doubtful, but edge defender Joseph Ossai (illness) and free safety Geno Stone (illness) will likely be game-time decisions. Taylor said both could be good to go despite not practicing Thursday. 

We'll update this post when the Broncos post their injury report...