Broncos HC Sean Payton hopes CB Riley Moss can play vs. Bengals
“The sooner the better that we can get him back in the lineup," Payton said.
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Broncos coach Sean Payton hopes starting cornerback Riley Moss, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury, can play on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“The sooner the better that we can get him back in the lineup. Hopefully it’s this weekend,” Payton said in a conference call with reporters on Sunday.
Moss has been sidelined since he sustained an MCL injury in a road win against the Raiders on Nov. 24. After not practicing for two straight weeks, the former Iowa standout was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday and Wednesday’s estimated injury report ahead of Denver’s 34-27 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.
Denver has relied heavily on rookie cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine over the last two games after veteran cornerback Levi Wallace struggled in the starting role against the Browns (six catches for 151 yards allowed) on Dec. 2.
Abrams-Draine has given up three catches for 23 yards on 12 targets in 63 coverage snaps since Week 15, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats. He recorded his first career interception against the Chargers.
Even though Abrams-Draine has played well, Denver could use Moss against the Bengals, one of the league’s best passing attacks. Cincinnati is first in passing yards per game (271.4) and ninth in yards per play (6.8). In addition to quarterback Joe Burrow playing at an MVP level, the Bengals have a lethal wide receiver duo in Ja’Marr Chase (102 catches, 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns in 14 games) and Tee Higgins (50 catches, 669 yards and six touchdowns in nine games).
Payton praised how Moss has competed since the start of training camp.
In 12 games, he has 71 tackles, an interception and eight passes defended in 12 starts. The former Iowa standout and high school track star also has given up 595 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 89.4 on 78 targets.
“He’s a big reason why we were playing so well defensively,” Payton said.
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