Trae Waynes won’t return for Bengals vs. Steelers in Week 12

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Trae Waynes won’t get activated from injured reserve and see action against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed the news Wednesday, noting that Waynes is still in the process of rehabbing his injured hamstring.

Waynes, signed to a three-year deal worth $42 million in free agency last offseason, made it into two games this year and went to injured reserve after a hamstring issue suffered late during a loss to the Green Bay Packers. Injured reserve rules meant that the earliest he could return was for the team’s Week 9 game against Cleveland.

Instead, Waynes rehabbed over the bye week, missed the win over Las Vegas and will now miss Week 12. In the interim, the Bengals will continue to lean on Chidobe Awuzie and Eli Apple as starters on the outside, with Mike Hilton in the slot and recent waiver-wire adds as depth.

For Waynes, his continued absence after missing all of last season due to a pec injury almost assuredly signals the team will move on this offseason given the out built into his contract after two years.