Saturday's move before they left for Denver and Sunday's game (4:25 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 12) reflects just where the Bengals want to go in the final seven games.

Younger.

Nose tackle Pat Sims, the Bengals' oldest draft pick, was waived to make room for rookie middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson making his second trip from the practice squad to the roster this season. That leaves the Bengals with three first-year defensive tackles behind Pro Bowler Geno Atkins in a pair of fourth-rounders from the last two drafts in Andrew Billings and Ryan Glasgow, and undrafted rookie Josh Tupou.

Sims, 31, a 10-year vet, was a third-round pick in 2008 who played for two seasons in Oakland before returning to Cincinnati in 2015. He started all seven games before injuring his thigh and missing the last two games. He's played 91 of his 124 career games with the Bengals and has 354 tackles.


SAM SLAM: Here's assistant equipment manager Sam Staley's weather report for Sunday. Partly cloudy at 60 degrees for kickoff, no chance of rain, and wind four miles per hour from the south. Sideline wardrobe is hoodies, sweatshirts and both ball caps and stocking caps.