Due to a concussion, Bengals running back Joe Mixon was unable to participate in the second half of Cincinnati’s 37-30 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Around the eight-minute mark of the second quarter, Mixon’s last play occurred when Steelers CB Levi Wallace tackled him after a 7-yard gain. The running back in his sixth season was examined for a concussion and was declared unable to continue playing.
Before being taken out of the game, Mixon had seven carries for 20 yards and was coming off of his greatest game ever. In Cincinnati’s 42-21 win against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9, Mixon established a team record with 211 total yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns.
During the Bengals’ coach Zac Taylor’s post-game press conference, Mixon was not mentioned.
Cincinnati (6-4) was able to overcome a tiny halftime hole to secure its fourth victory in five games despite the absence of Mixon and standout wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Samaje Perine, a Bengals reserve running back, set a Bengals record on Sunday by scoring three touchdowns while catching the ball.
Taylor stated of the team’s other running backs, “We have fantastic talent.” “And those guys uphold the standard every single week because they are aware of what it is. They continuously put in the effort, which is fantastic for me to witness as a coach.”
Perine ended with those three touchdowns, along with four receptions for 52 yards. He also ran for 30 yards on 11 carries.
Perine, a teammate of Mixon’s at Oklahoma, said that on the Bengals’ touchdown plays, he was just in the right place at the right time.
When he checks down, “I’m the checkdown and lucky to have some room to make things happen,” Perine said. In all other respects, I’m simply the next person up.