Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown was injured late in the fourth quarter of the team’s Week 17 contest vs. the Denver Broncos. Here’s the latest on the Bengals’ starting running back’s injury.
What Happened to Chase Brown?
Brown’s injury was extra unfortunate because he could have walked in for a touchdown. With 1:39 left in a 17-17 game, the Broncos were seemingly trying to allow Brown to score. Cincinnati had the ball at the Broncos’ six-yard line and had the opportunity to run out the clock with Denver holding only one timeout.
Brown tried to slide down at the one-yard line and did manage to keep himself out of the end zone. But in the process, his right leg awkwardly folded underneath, leading to an apparent ankle injury.
Chase Brown goes down instead of scoring the TD 👀
Pain for anytime TD (-185) bettors 😭pic.twitter.com/FL3QQHrMJn
— Pikkit (@pikkitsports) December 29, 2024
The Bengals scored on the next play regardless on a Joe Burrow quarterback sneak, canceling out Brown’s efforts to run out most of the rest of the clock.
Brown never returned to the game in overtime, with Khalil Herbert handling primary backfield duties the rest of the game. After the game, head coach Zac Taylor said that Brown suffered a sprained ankle, but didn’t have any word on the severity.
#Bengals coach Zac Taylor on RB Chase Brown’s injury: “I just know it’s an ankle sprain, we’ll see from there.”
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 29, 2024
The Bengals close the season with a Week 18 visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Cincinnati will be mathematically alive for the final playoff spot, the Bengals must win and get a loss from the Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, and Miami Dolphins to make the postseason.
Fantasy Impact if Brown Is Out
Brown has been one of the biggest steals of the fantasy football season, rushing for 923 yards and seven touchdowns (while adding 50 receptions for 336 receiving yards and four scores through the air).
Including today’s matchup against the Broncos, he has reached 20 touches in four straight games.
Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase get the attention for the success of this offense, but Brown has been critical for this team to make its late-season run. He has become a matchup-proof, every-week starter. This is a tough loss for fantasy managers, but fortunately, Brown was able to play most of the game, totaling 91 yards.
Unfortunately, if Brown cannot return for overtime, his three-game touchdown streak would come to an end.
With Zack Moss already sidelined and Brown banged up, the Bengals’ starting running back would be Khalil Herbert for the remainder of the game and Week 18 if Brown cannot play.
Herbert might be a volume-based play, but he would be very difficult to trust at this point in the season.
