CLEVELAND, Ohio — Bengals corner Eli Apple will not play on Monday night against the Browns.
He was one of seven inactives the Bengals announced on Monday night 90 minutes before kickoff, the list includes — wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, wide receiver Stanley Morgan, running back Trayveon Williams, defensive tack Josh Tupou along with offensive linemen D’Ante Smith and offensive Jackson Carman.
Chase (hip), Morgan (hamstring) and Tupou (calf) were all ruled out for the Browns game on Saturday, but Apple was listed as doubtful. Apple, who started all seven games this season, was limited in practice throughout the week with a hamstring injury.
The coaching staff decided last week to start getting reps for second-round draft pick Cam Taylor Britt, who spent the first month of the season on the injured reserve. Apple is one of four Bengals defenders who has played 400 snaps this season and has been a full-time starter since coming into the league in 2016.
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“In a perfect world you don’t want to be able to do that, but this is not a perfect world and we’re in a situation where you’ve got a young guy who had no preseason,” Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said, of rotating corners. “You’ve got to get him snaps at some point other than scout team reps, so yesterday was a perfect opportunity. That’s kind of how it all played out.”
Taylor Britt is in line to get his first-career start on Monday night. The Bengals selected the speedy Nebraska alum with the 60th overall pick in this year’s draft.
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