Orlando Brown Jr. doubtful to play vs. Cowboys; Cordell Volson back at left guard

A double whammy.

The Cincinnati Bengals, sitting at 4-8, aren’t mathematically eliminated from the playoff. However, as they head into their Week 14 Monday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys, their hopes are on life support, and the smallest mistake will officially pull the plug.

So it’s unfortunate news that left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. is doubtful to play, head coach Zac Taylor announced Thursday.

Furthermore, Charlie Clifford is reporting that Cody Ford is back at left tackle, bringing Cordell Volson back to left guard at practice on Thursday.

Brown Jr. averaged a 76.35 pass-blocking grade from PFF through the first eight weeks of the season before he suffered a knee injury against the Eagles. Ford took over at left tackle, and averaged a 62.0 in the three games he started there. According to PFF, he didn’t give up any sacks at that time.

Unfortunately, in the three games that Ford started at left tackle, Volson gave up two sacks, four hits and eight hurries. It came as a relief when it was announced, once Brown was back at left tackle in Week 13, Ford would take over the guard position and Volson would head to the bench.

It worked out, at least at the guard position, but it appears as if Brown came back before he was ready. Not only did he score a very low 23.3 as a pass blocker, per PFF, but this happened as well:

So, if Brown can’t go on Monday night, Ford is passable, I guess, at left tackle in a pinch, but he and Volson side-by-side could be an issue against a Cowboys defense with the ninth-most sacks in the league.

If this doesn’t work and Brown doesn’t come back, we could see more Matt Lee as the season winds to a close.

Stay tuned as this story develops throughout the week.