Bengals Weekend Forecast: First glance at the Packers

The Green Bay Packers head into their Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a handful of injury questions involving key players.

Wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, defensive tackle Mike Daniels and cornerback Davon House all left Sunday night’s loss at Atlanta in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game. And all four starters’ availability for Sunday’s contest at Lambeau Field may come down to game-time decisions.

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Nelson (quad) and Daniels (hamstring) left in the first quarter, while Cobb suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter but stayed in the game until re-aggravating it in the fourth. House (quad) and backup safety Kentrell Brice (groin) also were unable to finish the game.

Green Bay went into the game against the Falcons already thin on the offensive line with starting tackles Bryan Bulaga (ankle) and David Bakhtiari (hamstring) inactive. The Falcons took advantage by sacking Rodgers three times as part of the seven quarterback hits they registered in the 34-23 victory.

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And that came after Seattle sacked Rodgers four times and recorded hits on five other plays in the season opener.

Despite all the injury issues, the Packers are still favored by 9, largely due to Rodgers, who is 57-15 at Lambeau Field. Since 2009, Green Bay is 12-4 at home against AFC opponents, although one of those losses came against Cincinnati in 2009, when the Bengals sacked Rodgers six times in a 31-24 triumph.

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A possible matchup Sunday could be between a pair of rookies who are former teammates. Green Bay cornerback Kevin King, whom the Packers selected 33rd overall, played at the University of Washington alongside Bengals first-round wide receiver John Ross, the ninth overall pick.

Bengals-Packers connections

Bengals WR Alex Erickson is from Darlington, Wis. (Darlington High School), and played at the University of Wisconsin. … Packers

CB Quinten Rollins is from Wilmington (Wilmington High School), and played at Miami University. … Packers LB Ahmad Brooks entered the NFL as a third-round pick of the Bengals in the 2006 supplemental draft, and was with Cincinnati through ’07. … Bengals LS Clark Harris entered the NFL as a seventh round draft pick (243rd overall) of the Packers in 2007. … Packers G/T Adam Pankey is from Hamilton (Hamilton High School). … Packers special teams coordinator Ron Zook played at Miami University and coached at the University of Cincinnati (1981-82) and Ohio State University (’88-90). … Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers coached at Ohio State from 1982-83. … Packers secondary-safeties coach Darren Perry was on the Bengals coaching staff in 2002. … Bengals assistant strength and conditioning coach Jeff Friday is from Milwaukee, Wis., and attended the

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. … Packers C Corey Linsley played at Ohio State. … Bengals WR Jake Kumerow (Reserve/Injured) played at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. … Packers DT Izaah Lunsford (practice squad) is from Cincinnati (Shroder Paideia High School). … Bengals CB Sojourn Shelton (practice squad) played at the University of Wisconsin.

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AFC North outlook

Baltimore (2-0) vs. Jacksonville (1-1) Sunday in LondonA Ravens team that continues to be decimated by injuries with recent losses to Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda and linebacker and Trotwood-Madison grad Bam Butler will play in London for the first time while the Jaguars will do so for a league-high fifth time in the last five years.

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Cleveland (0-2) vs. Indianapolis (0-2) Sunday. In addition to losing seven of eight to the Colts, the Browns have dropped 14 consecutive road games and 27 of their last 29 overall.

Pittsburgh (2-0) at Chicago (0-2) Sunday. The Steelers are looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 2010 and just the fourth time since 1980.


Next game

Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) vs. Green Bay Packers (1-1)

Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc.

When: 4:25 p.m. Sunday

TV: Ch. 7, 12

Radio: 1530-AM, 102.7-FM, 104.7-FM

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