The Bengals will be without starting right guard Kevin Zeitler for the second straight game because of a foot injury while linebacker Vontaze Burfict showed up on Friday's injury report with an ankle injury.
Burfict was limited in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at San Diego. Burfict was not on the injury report before Friday. He leads the NFL with 118 tackles this season (by NFL game stats), six more than Buffalo rookie linebacker Kiko Alonso. Burfict has been credited with 146 tackles by the Bengals' coaching staff this season. He was credited with 174 tackles last season by the coaching staff.
Burfict has not missed a game in his brief two-year career, starting 25 of 27 games plus last season's AFC Wild Card game at Houston.
Veteran Mike Pollak is expected to start in place of Zeitler. Pollak also started against Cleveland in the Bengals' last game. They had a bye last week.
The Bengals have already lost eight defensive players to season-ending injuries this year, including cornerback Leon Hall and defensive tackle Geno Atkins. They are expected to have linebacker Rey Maualuga and defensive tackle Devon Still available this week. Maualuga has missed the last three games after suffering a knee sprain and concussion against the Jets on Oct. 27. Still has missed the last four games with an elbow injury suffered at Detroit on Oct. 20.
Maualuga and Still are listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Chargers (5-6). Linebacker Michael Boley (shoulder), safety Chris Crocker (hamstring), punter Kevin Huber (left ankle) and wide receiver/returner Brandon Tate (ankle) are also listed as probable. Tate did not practice on Friday.
The Bengals will travel to San Diego Friday afternoon. They are 7-4 and in first place in the AFC North. A win would allow them to maintain a two-game lead on second place Baltimore after the Ravens (6-6) beat Pittsburgh 22-20 Thursday night. The Bengals have won their last two games against the Chargers, including a 20-13 win on the West Coast last December.
