It must be Steelers Sunday.
With an eye to keeping in check the Pittsburgh running game that has dominated this series, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis opted to suit up two nose tackles when he traded out Adolphus Washington for Josh Tupou on the inactive lost before Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals got one to fall their way when starting cornerback William Jackson (knee), designated questionable on Friday after being limited much of the week, got the start.
It's just the third time the 350-pound Tupou has been dressed with the Bengals apparently concerned about Steelers running back James Conner getting the NFL's 27th-ranked running game off the skids on an overcast drizzly day at PBS. The Bengals also went with seven linebackers when rookie Malik Jefferson got the call after sitting out last week's win against Miami.
Those were pretty much Lewis' only wrinkles. With tight ends Tyler Kroft (inactive) and Tyler Eifert on injured reserve, he needed a third tight end in Matt Lengel. They signed Lengel off the Texans' practice squad on Wednesday, but it's his third stint in Cincinnati after tours on the 2015 and 2016 practice squads. It's his eighth NFL game and first as a Bengal.
As expected running back Giovani Bernard (knee), wide receiver John Ross (groin) and center Billy Price (foot) were inactive. As they have been all season, so were rookie wide receiver Auden Tate and back-up tackle Cedric Ogbuehi.
Images from week six as the Bengals host the Steelers in an AFC North showdown.
Wide Receiver A.J. Green makes a catch against the Steelers defense in the first half.
Running back Joe Mixon scores a touchdown to put the Bengals ahead late against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tyler Boyd makes a move on a Pittsburgh Steelers defender during the first half.
Tyler Boyd makes a leaping catch in the end zone for the Bengals' first touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Joe Mixon dives for a first down in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bengals kicker Randy Bullock kicks an extra point against the Denver Broncos at Paul Brown Stadium.
Bengals safety Shawn Williams tackles Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium.
Linebacker Preston Brown makes a tackle in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Defensive tackle Andrew Billings runs out onto the field at Paul Brown Stadium before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jessie Bates runs out of the tunnel before the Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bengals defensive tackle Andrew Billings waits in the tunnel before being introduced before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium.
A is displayed outside Paul Brown Stadium before an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fans tailgate before an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Cincinnati.
Center Trey Hopkins during warmups before the Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers from Paul Brown Stadium.
