Bengals place linebacker Thomas Howard on IR with ACL tear

We never wish injuries on anyone in the NFL, but it is a part of the game and as Browns fans know all too well, it changes the action each and every Sunday. That disclaimer in mind, Thomas Howard’s injury is a big blow to the Bengals defense ahead of the matchup this weekend with the Browns. The Bengals re-signed Roddrick Muckelroy, who was one of the team’s final cuts leading up to the season.

“It was an unfortunate thing anytime a player like Thomas, a young talent, gets hurt. You have to move on. It’s a freak thing that happens but we were lucky to get Muckelroy back here this morning and get going from there,” head coach Marvin Lewis said.

You’d always prefer to have your best players beat their best players, but that isn’t a choice you get to make unless you’re playing Madden. As 92.3 The Fan’s Adam the Bull (Bengals fan) points out, this could potentially make the game easier for the Browns running attack that struggled a week ago against the Eagles.

[Related: Browns vs. Bengals – Reader Survey]