Bengals Running Back Leaves With Head Injury

The Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in a surprising shootout with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they may have to keep up for the remainder of the contest without their top running back. Joe Mixon left the game with a head injury and was later declared out with a concussion.

.@KetteringHealth Injury Update: HB Joe Mixon has been declared out with a concussion.
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 20, 2022

Mixon had carried the ball seven times for 20 yards before exiting. He's coming off the game of his life against the Panthers in Week 9; he totalled six touchdowns and 211 yards from scrimmage before the Bengals' Week 10 bye.

Without Mixon, the Bengals have been forced to go pass-heavy against the Steelers. Backup running back Samaje Perine has run the ball a mere five times, and quarterback Joe Burrow has dropped back 35 times through three quarters.

Mixon has been the Bengals' leading rusher in each of the past six seasons. The one-time Pro Bowler set career-highs in yards from scrimmage (1519) and touchdowns (16) in 2021. He has compiled 5169 rushing yards in 76 appearances with the Bengals.