Ray Maualuga carted off and will not return

Bengals linebacker Ray Maualuga left the game on a cart and won’t return.

Ray Maualuga of the Cincinnati Bengals was carted off during the Wildcard Playoff game with the Indianapolis Colts.

This is not good news at all as the Colts are nursing an early lead over the Bengals and Dan Herron has 4 carries for 34 yards. The Benglas will really need Maualuga to try to come back but according to reports he will not return.

#Bengals LB Rey Maualuga has been ruled out for the rest of the game. #CINvsIND
— IndyStarSports (@IndyStarSports) January 4, 2015

The Bengals will be hard pressed to shut down the Colts offensive attack without their starting linebacker. Maualuga had already amassed 2 tackles and a defended pass before leaving.

More from Cincinnati Bengals

Andrew Luck and company seem to be heating up and will present an even greater challenge for the Bengals to overcome. However the Bengals can likely switch to more nickel packages and will look to Vinny Rey to cover for the injured Maualuga for the rest of the afternoon. If the Colts wide receivers ever quit dropping passes this might be a long afternoon for Vinny and the rest of the Bengals defenders.

The Bengals will look for Dre Kirkpatrick and Adam Jones to step up and make some big plays and lead this Bengals defense for the rest of that afternoon. Kirkpatrick has already made a key play that kept the Colts out of the end zone once and forced a field goal.

The Colts have really eliminated the pass rush of the Bengals with some quick passes and the absence of Ray Maualuga is leading to the Colts moving the ball at will. Andrew Luck now has over 200 yards passing before the halftime break.

The Bengals are also without Vontaze Burfict and with the Colts moving the ball at will look to spell a long rest of the afternoon for the Bengals, but they have nothing to be ashamed of. If nothing else, Bengals fans you are better than over half of the NFL. Losing linebackers of the caliber of Burfict and Maualuga are no small losses and yet the Bengals manage to pull some big plays seemingly out of nowhere forcing a turnover as the Colts were driving the ball at will.

How well the Bengals react to the loss of Maualuga will speak volumes to how well this team is built and just how ready they are to take the next step and be a true contender for the Lombardi trophy this year and years to come.

Bengals linebacker Ray Maualuga left the game on a cart and won’t return.

More from FanSided