Carl Lawson expected to line up for his second straight start at defensive end and wide receiver John Ross III retuned to the lineup for the first time in a month when Bengals head coach Zac Taylor handed in his active list 90 minutes before Sunday's game at Indianapolis.
Lawson, who started in place of Carlos Dunlap last week in Baltimore, took the place of Sam Hubbard (elbow) after Hubbard went to injured reserve. Dunlap, listed as the starting left end, could return to the starting lineup after a one-week hiatus.
Also returning after a two-week absence because of a hamstring issue, Mackensie Alexander returns to the slot.
Ross, inactive for the last three games, didn't make last week's trip because he was ill after missing the previous two games as a healthy scratch. Wide receiver Auden Tate (shoulder) was one of five players Taylor made inactive when there were no promotions from the practice squad.
On Saturday the Bengals made a straight roster to move fill Hubbard's spot when they signed defensive tackle Khalil McKenzie as they try to put together the pieces in the wake of nose tackle D.J. Reader's season-ending injury in Baltimore. At the beleaguered tackle position McKenzie is set to play in his third NFL game and veteran Xavier Williams makes his Bengals debut while veteran Christian Covington, acquired in a cut-down day trade, is expected to make his fourth start of the season. Geno Atkins could get his first start of the year after making 2020 debut last week with 19 snaps as the Bengals try to bulk up against a talented Indy line led by Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson looking to re-establish its running game.
Taylor made no pre-game changes to the back seven, meaning he's still got veteran linebackers Josh Bynes and Germaine Pratt in starting slots, as well as cornerbacks William Jackson III and Darius Phillips on the outside and Alexander in the slot.
Joining Tate on the inactive list were running back Trayveon Williams, offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland, linebacker Markus Bailey and kicker Austin Seibert.
The Bengals have arrived. Check out the team's arrival to Lucas Oil Stadium as Cincinnati faces the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6.
DT Christian Covington
LB Germaine Pratt walks into Lucas Oil Stadium prior to the contest against the Indianapolis Colts.
OL Fred Johnson
LB Jordan Evans
DE Carlos Dunlap
S Jessie Bates III
QB Joe Burrow
WR Tee Higgins enters Lucas Oil Stadium for a game against the Indianapolis Colts during the 2020 season.
LB Logan Wilson
