Cincinnati Bengals RB Giovani Bernard Out Against Cleveland Browns

Oct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) carries the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) carries the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard will miss the team’s Thursday night game against the Cleveland Browns with the same injury that kept him out of Week 9 action.

The Cincinnati Bengals will once again be without top running back Giovani Bernard, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but that should hardly slow them down as once again as backup Jeremy Hill stands poised to once again lead the team as the starting running back in Bernard’s place. The Bengals host the Cleveland Browns in Thursday Night Football action.

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The Bengals were without Bernard in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and it hardly slowed them. Jeremy Hill ran wild for 154 yards and two touchdowns against the Jags in a 33-23 victory. With the bye week looming after this Thursday game, it only makes sense for the Bengals to rest their starting running back in preparation for a playoff run.

Of course, this could still work against the Bengals, who play in the most crowded division in the NFL right now. Each team in the AFC North has at least five wins so far this season and the Browns are enjoying a resurgence under first-year head coach Mike Pettine. At 5-3, the Browns could vault themselves to a division tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers if they can pull off the upset.

The Bengals meanwhile have won their last two games, but had gone winless in the three previous games. They’ll look to solidify their slim lead atop the division with a win over pesky Cleveland.

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