In the wake of NFL-leading wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s suspension for Sunday's game (1 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Local 12) against the No. 2 AFC seed Patriots at Paycor Stadium, the Bengals say they'll replace him by committee.
Which means we're talking about No. 3 receiver Andrei Iosivas (19 catches for a touchdown), No. 4 Mitchell Tinsley (three catches for a touchdown), maybe tight end Mike Gesicki (who just started practicing Wednesday after a stint on injured reserve with a pectoral issue) and others.
"It's going to be a whole host of guys that we will afford opportunity. That was a message to them this morning when we talked to the team," said offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher before Wednesday's practice. "When you don't have Ja'Marr available, everybody has eyes in their head. They can see how big of a piece he is to what we try to do week in and week out.
"We can look at that and feel sorry for ourselves or there should be seven or eight guys walking around this building with some energy today knowing those opportunities have got to go somewhere."
Another possibility is wide receiver Jermaine Burton, yet to be active this season.
The Joes
Head coach Zac Taylor said before Wednesday's practice the plan is for quarterback Joe Burrow (toe) to throw in team drills for the first time since they cleared him to practice last week.
And the plan stays the same for quarterback Joe Flacco (shoulder). Not to throw Wednesday, but to throw Thursday.
Marquee Matchup
With Chase out, the marquee matchup looks to be the Patriots' excellent cornerback Christian Gonzalez against the red-hot Tee Higgins with six touchdowns in the last six games. The 6-1 Gonzalez plays bigger, but so does the 6-4 Higgins.
"That's something they've shown. Travel (Gonzalez) with whom they deem to be the biggest threat," Pitcher said. "I'm not venture to guess how they're going to choose to play us, but there's evidence of that on tape.
"I think Tee's a tough cover for most guys. It's rare to have the explosiveness and the fluidity at the top of the break in a guy Tee's size. I think those things show up regardless of who is covering him. These guys are good. They've got good corners. Gonzalez, obviously. I think probably view him as their best one if that's the guy that they're traveling on the opponent's top guy. I think they're right to feel that way about him."
As good as Gonzalez is, Pro Football Focus ranks him 65th among cornerbacks, and the Bengals' DJ Turner II is 22nd.
Slants and Screens
Taylor said since Gesicki had been practicing and playing before he got hurt in Green Bay Oct. 12, he's got a better shot at playing quicker than safety Daijahn Anthony since Anthony hasn't practiced since injuring his hamstring in training camp.
"He's more ready to hit the ground running. We'll see how it looks this week," Taylor said. "It helps given that situations to lose a guy like Ja'Marr and add Mike helps ease the pain a little bit." …
Taylor is impressed that the Pats have an even turnover differential: "That shows they've been solid in all three phases." …
Taylor indicated Chase can't come into Paycor this week and can't have contact with the team until some time Monday.
"I talked to him immediately after the game, but since then, you can't have communication with him," Taylor said. "He and I are on the same page with everything." …
Running back Samaje Perine (ankle) is doubtful this week …
So is edge Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis)…
View images of the Bengals-Patriots series over the years.
WR Ja'Marr Chase hurdles over Patriots defense in the fourth quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (85) greet each other during pregame warmups at their NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
New England Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan (86) and Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Scott Perry (32) fight for control of the ball in the first half of an NFL game in Cincinnati, Oct. 15, 1978. Perry ended up with the pass from Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan for an interception. (AP Photo/Brian Horton)
As the crowd at Gillette Stadium jeers them Cincinnati Bengals players Langston Moore (60), John Thornton (97) and Duane Clemons (92) wait to be introduced before the game against the New England Patriots Foxboro, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004. (AP Photo/ Robert E. Klein)
New England Patriots defensive back Brandon Meriweather (31) tackles Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh during an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals' Rudi Johnson, left, runs for a before being brought down by New England Patriots' Asaunte Samuel (22). (AP Photo/David Kohl)
LB Emmanuel Lamur bears down on QB Tom Brady in a game, Oct. 5, 2014.
New England Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan is brought down from behind by Cincinnati Bengals Louis Breeden after catching a pass from Patriots quarterback Tony Eason during third quarter NFL action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Dec. 22, 1985. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
WR Trenton Irwin celebrates a touchdown in the second quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Cincinnati Bengals' Larry Kinnebrew (28) takes to the air to gain some yardage against the New England Patriots during NFL action at Sullivan Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday, Dec. 22, 1985. (AP Photo/Mike Kullen)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs with the football during an NFL game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec.24, 2022 in Foxborough, Mass. The Bengals defeated the Patriots 22-18. (Kathryn Riley via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Eric Rowe (25) reaches in to break up a pass to Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Cris Collinsworth of the Cincinnati Bengals, left, hangs on to the ball as he is halted by Ernest Gibson of the New England Patriots on Oct. 15, 1984. (AP Photo/Dave Tenenbaum)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Perry (23) runs past New England Patriots' Rodney Bailey (96) in the first half in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) covers Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday October 5, 2014 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) is tackled by New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati Bengals guard Bobbie Williams (63) lines up against New England Patriots defensive end Mike Wright (99) in the second quarter an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Cincinnati Bengals' wide receiver Chad Johnson, left, catches a pass as he is tackled by New England Patriots' cornerback Ty Law. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
WR Andrei Iosivas catches a pass along the sidelines in Week 1 against the Patriots, Sunday, September 8, 2024.
WR Tee Higgins scores a touchdown in the first quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Bengals defense takes down the Patriots ballcarrier in the second quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh #84 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball after making a catch against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game on Dec. 12, 2004 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 35-28. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Zach Carter (95) reacts after a defensive stop during an NFL game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec.24, 2022 in Foxborough, Mass. The Bengals defeated the Patriots 22-18. (Kathryn Riley via AP)
T.J. Houshmandzadeh #84 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates his touchdown catch with teammate Chad Johnson #85 against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game on Oct. 1, 2007 in Cincinnati. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 34-13. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Antonio Chatman #83 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a pass against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game on Oct. 1, 2007 in Cincinnati. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 34-13. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots gets hit as he throws by Duane Clemons #92 of the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game on Dec. 12, 2004 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 35-28. (Joe Robbins via AP)
The Bengals and Patriots line up for a snap during a game, Sept. 12, 2010.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs the ball against New England Patriots strong safety Patrick Chung, left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Bengals CB Dax Hill makes a tackle during Cincinnati's Week 1 game against the New England Patriots at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, September 8, 2024.
A group of New England Patriots defenders make a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 9, 2001 in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Patriots 23-17. (Joe Robbins via AP)
