Injury updates for several Bengals

Mostly positive on the injury front.

The Bengals’ staff gave some positive injury updates during the team’s media luncheon Monday afternoon.

First and foremost, Trey Hopkins has been fully cleared. He, along with Joe Burrow, has been rehabbing a torn ACL, but the Bengals expect both of them to suit up in Week 1 against the Vikings.

The Bengals drafted Trey Hill, claimed Lamont Gaillard off waivers last week, and brought in Austin Reiter for a visit Monday. These moves were thought to have been made to ease Hopkins back into the starting lineup, but Zac Taylor’s words indicate Hopkins should be good to go for the start of training camp. As a reminder, Hopkins’ ACL injury was less than eight full months ago.

D.J. Reader is also fully cleared, which will be crucial on the defensive line. He missed the final 10 games of last season with a quad injury.

Rookie Cam Sample is still day-to-day with a hamstring injury. Sample is towards the bottom of the depth chart right now, so there’s no need to rush him back. Still, it would be great to see him fully healthy at training camp and see if he can take advantage of any opportunities there.

In addition to Sample, Pooka Williams is dealing with a minor illness, though the Bengals expect him to be back soon.

For the bad news, Bengals’ seventh round pick Wyatt Hubert is expected to miss the entire 2021 season with a torn pec injury. Hubert was expected to battle for a roster spot and potentially make an impact on special teams, but it appears we’ll have to wait until next year to see him in action.

Drue Chrisman, the rookie punter, will be out early because of a hand injury. The Bengals brought him in, partially at least, to give Kevin Huber a break during training camp, so Chrisman will be missed in that regard. Chrisman shouldn’t be out for too long, but the chances of him snatching punting duties from Huber are basically non-existent now.