Dolfan Radio | Week 5
By Brad Michaels • October 9, 2026
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox. Bengals at Hard Rock. They are 2–2. We are 0–4. This is the first game that looks like a chance.
I wrote 4–13 before a snap was played. I have not moved off it. A chance is not a promise. It is a home game against a team that is not 4–0, with a bye behind it for both sides. If a win is coming in this stretch, it has to be live on Sunday.
Joe Burrow is off the injury report. Through four games he is 112 of 157 for 1,171 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Last week at home against Jacksonville he was 39 of 54 for 428, one touchdown and two interceptions, in a 22–17 loss. He can throw it. The question is who is catching it.
Ja’Marr Chase is questionable. He is still in the concussion protocol after the hit in Jacksonville. He did not practice Wednesday, he was limited Thursday, and he was in uniform Friday. Zac Taylor said he will likely play if he is cleared Saturday. Tee Higgins is questionable with the groin and the neck. He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. He got on the field Friday. That is one day. I am not calling either of them in. Colbie Young is questionable with a knee. Safety Bryan Cook is questionable with an ankle. Andrei Iosivas is on injured reserve with the thumb. If Chase and Higgins are both out, it is Dohnte Meyers, Mitch Tinsley, and Mike Gesicki. That is a different Sunday than the one with those two on the field.
On our side, Jeff Hafley ruled Rob Beal Jr. out with the hamstring, Justin Joly out with a concussion, and Reese Taylor out with the quad. Taylor will miss a few weeks. Caleb Douglas is unlikely with the ankle. That would be a third straight game. Jaylen Wright will play. He was limited Thursday with a foot. Jackson Woodard’s ankle was still undetermined Friday morning. Kenneth Grant practiced limited off injured reserve. Hafley said the activation decision would come after Friday’s practice. As of this writing he is not on the roster for Sunday. Storm Duck has been practicing. He is not activated either. Achane is done for the year.
| Friday | |
|---|---|
| Ja’Marr Chase | Questionable. Concussion protocol. Practiced Friday. Must clear Saturday. |
| Tee Higgins | Questionable. Groin and neck. One practice, Friday. |
| Caleb Douglas | Unlikely. Ankle. Third straight if he sits. |
| Rob Beal Jr. | Out. Hamstring. |
| Justin Joly | Out. Concussion. |
| Reese Taylor | Out. Quad. A few weeks. |
| Jaylen Wright | Will play. Foot. |
| Kenneth Grant | Practiced. Not activated as of Friday morning. |
If Chase plays, this is the same problem we had with Hockenson. Know who has the receiver. Know who has Gesicki. The defensive backs cannot guess. Rodriguez had 18 tackles in Minneapolis because he was cleaning up plays that had already been given up. That was a good day for him. It is not a plan. Brooks had 13. The middle can tackle. The secondary has to be in the right spot before the ball is thrown.
The rush has to show up again. Four sacks on Murray was the first time this year it was on the sheet. Chop had one and three quarterback hits. Sieler had two. Uche had one. Burrow has been sacked nine times in four games. He will hold it if the picture is there. Get him on the ground. If the picture is clean and Chase is running, the sack does not matter.
Willis is four games into a line that is still getting its legs. I am not burying him off 9 of 17 for 85 yards against Flores. I am not handing him the job either. Douglas is unlikely. Bell and Washington have to separate. The line has to give him a pocket. Then we can talk about the reads. Gordon needs a hole, not one 53-yard crease. Wright has to give more than seven yards on five carries, or Gordon wears out.
Special teams cannot be what it was in Minneapolis. A 36-yard punt return, a 47-yard kickoff, and Washington’s muff inside the 10 that was a touchback only because Vaughn touched it. Cover the kick. Catch the punt. Nine penalties for 55 yards was a mental problem unless it was holding or interference. Shula had the least penalized teams in the league. Know the call. Know where you are.
Bengals 24, Dolphins 16. I am writing that with Chase questionable, not out. If he and Higgins are both inactive Sunday morning, the number comes down and the chance gets better. I am not moving the pick on a hope. Home. First real chance. Still a team that has not won, against a quarterback who has thrown for 1,171 yards. Cover the kick. Know the receiver. Get Burrow on the ground. That is the job.
1993 stays in the featured slot until we win a game. The bye is next week. This one is Sunday.