Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) is stopped short of the end zone by Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) on a carry in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 17 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. The Bengals took a 30-24 win in overtime to remain in the post season chase.

Bengals RB Chase Brown, WR Tee Higgins questionable vs. Steelers

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown and wide receiver Tee Higgins are listed as questionable to play on Saturday night in the season finale against the host Pittsburgh Steelers.

Brown has failed to participate in practice both days this week while nursing an ankle injury. Higgins is dealing with ankle and knee ailments.

The Bengals (8-8) need to beat the Steelers (10-6) and have the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins lose their respective games in order to qualify the playoffs.

Brown sustained a right ankle injury late in the fourth quarter in Cincinnati’s 30-24 overtime victory over the visiting Broncos last Saturday. He ran 5 yards but hurt himself when he intentionally slid at the 1-yard line in an attempt to keep the clock moving. After his injury stopped the clock, Joe Burrow ran it in for a score on the next play with 1:29 left in the game.

The Broncos then scored the tying touchdown with eight seconds to play, and Khalil Herbert took Brown’s place in the backfield.

Brown, 24, has rushed for 990 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has 54 receptions for 360 yards and four scores.

On Thursday, the Bengals signed running back Kendall Milton off the practice squad. He will join Herbert and Trayveon Williams on the roster behind Brown.

Higgins, 25, is coming off his best performance of the season. He reeled in 11 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns against the Broncos, including the winning 3-yard scoring strike in overtime.

Higgins has 69 catches for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

Cincinnati defensive end Sam Hubbard has been ruled out with a knee injury, while tight end Drew Sample (groin), wide receiver Charlie Jones (groin), cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (ankle) and offensive tackle Amarius Mims (ankle, hand) are deemed questionable for Saturday’s game.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA;  Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Bengals leading rusher Chase Brown (ankle sprain) exits

The Cincinnati Bengals kept their slim playoff hopes alive, but they lost starting running back Chase Brown to an ankle injury in Saturday’s 30-24 overtime victory over the visiting Denver Broncos.

Brown’s injury happened with the Bengals driving late in the fourth quarter of a tie game but trying to run the clock down in anticipation of a go-ahead score. He ran 5 yards but hurt himself when he intentionally slid at the 1-yard line in an attempt to keep the clock moving. After his injury stopped the clock, Joe Burrow ran it in for a score on the next play with 1:29 left in the game.

The Broncos then scored the tying touchdown with eight seconds to play, and Khalil Herbert took Brown’s place in the backfield.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after the win that Brown, who totaled 91 offensive yards, had sprained his right ankle. The second-year back rushed for 67 yards on 20 carries and caught four passes for 24 yards.

Cincinnati’s fifth-round pick in 2023, the 24-year-old Brown was sharing running back duties with Zack Moss this season until Moss went down with a neck injury in the eighth game of the season.

In 16 games (10 starts) this season, Brown has 990 rushing yards and seven touchdowns along with 54 receptions for 360 yards and four scores.

As a rookie behind Joe Mixon last season, Brown played in 12 games and finished with 179 rushing yards along with 14 catches for 156 yards and one score.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) eyes the end zone after catching a pass in the second quarter of the NFL Week 6 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Seattle Seahawks at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023.

Bengals place rookie RB Chase Brown (hamstring) on IR

Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Chase Brown was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

Brown, who is nursing a hamstring injury, already had been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the host San Francisco 49ers. He will miss at least four games as a result of Saturday’s move.

Brown, 23, has three catches for seven yards and two carries for six yards while appearing in five games this season. He also has appeared on special teams with the Bengals, who selected him in the fifth round of the this year’s NFL Draft.

Joe Mixon remains the starting running back in Cincinnati, with Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans expected to serve as backups.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA;  Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) runs the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Illinois star RB Chase Brown (leg) ‘trending in right direction’

Illinois running back Chase Brown, the nation’s leading rusher, is “trending in the right direction” after injuring his right leg late in Saturday’s loss to Purdue, coach Bret Bielema told reporters Monday.

Brown needed help getting back to the Fighting Illini’s bench after being tackled out of bounds during the final minute of the 31-24 defeat.

“Very positive and excited, but don’t know where we’ll be by Friday for the trip and Saturday for the game,” Bielema said.

No. 21 Illinois (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) is still in the race for the Big Ten West title and a spot in the conference championship game despite losing to Purdue. Up next, though, is a crucial game at No. 3 Michigan.

Brown has gained an FBS-high 1,442 rushing yards on 280 carries (5.2 yards per carry) through 10 games. He has seven touchdowns on the ground along with three receiving touchdowns. Against Purdue, he finished with 98 rushing yards — a season low — and two rushing scores.

Bielema also said that cornerback Taz Nicholson would be out for the rest of the season with a dislocated wrist that required surgery.

–Field Level Media

Nov 5, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA;  Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium.  Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Nation’s leading rusher Chase Brown hurts leg, able to walk off field

Illinois running back Chase Brown, the nation’s leading rusher, left Saturday’s 31-24 loss to Purdue with what appeared to be a serious leg injury.

Illini coach Bret Bielema didn’t have an update in his postgame press conference.

Brown was tackled near the sideline with 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and was seen writhing in pain out of bounds while grabbing at his leg. Trainers tended to him, and ESPN reported that his twin brother, Sydney, who plays safety for the Fighting Illinois, was in tears while taking a knee next to him.

Entering Saturday, Chase Brown had tallied 1,344 rushing yards on 257 carries. He picked up 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries against the Boilermakers, snapping a streak in which he had rushed for over 100 yards in 10 straight games.

Chase Brown didn’t put any pressure on his leg immediately following the injury but was seen walking off the field under his own power at the conclusion of the game.

–Field Level Media