Giovani Bernard Injury: Updates on Bengals Star's Hip and Return

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 23

The Bengals confirmed Giovani Bernard is active for Week 12:

Updates from Friday, Nov. 21

Coley Harvey of ESPN has an update on Giovani Bernard's status for Sunday's game:

Updates from Thursday, Nov. 20

Richard Skinner of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on Giovani Bernard from Bengals practice:

Bernard discussed his status after practice via Kevin Goheen of Fox Sports: 

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The reason I was sitting out was because I felt like crap. I'm just recovering from some of those hits. My body feels good right now. The injuries are going away. It's just a matter of going back out on the field. It's not fun to sit around and not be able to play football.

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Updates from Wednesday, Nov. 19

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com has an update on Giovani Bernard's status at Wednesday's practice:

Updates from Monday, Nov. 17

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com expects Giovani Bernard to return to game action in Week 12:

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[Jeremy] Hill has made enough big plays to be on pace for nearly 900 yards in the last six games, the most by a Bengals rookie runner since Corey Dillon with 1,129 in 1997. With 556 yards on 4.9 yards per carry, he’s 139 yards shy of what Giovani Bernard did as a rookie last year. With Bernard expected back this week after missing the last three games, the Bengals look to have their backfield flexed for the stretch.

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Updates from Friday, Nov. 14

Richard Skinner of The Cincinnati Enquirer has an update on Giovani Bernard's status for Week 11:

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com has an update on Giovani Bernard's practice status on Friday:

Updates from Thursday, Nov. 13

Coley Harvey of ESPN.com has an update on Giovani Bernard's status at practice Thursday:

Updates from Wednesday, Nov. 12

NFL.com's Albert Breer reports on if Giovani Bernard will be playing Sunday against the Saints:

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reported on Bernard from practice:

Paul Dehner Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported what he saw from Bernard:

Updates from Thursday, Nov. 6

ESPN's Coley Harvey reveals Giovani Bernard is inactive for Week 10:

ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported on the injury:

Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports that Bernard may miss more than just tonight's game:

Updates from Wednesday, Nov. 5

Paul Dehner Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on Giovani Bernard's status for Week 10:

Updates from Tuesday, Nov. 4

Jay Morrison of Cox Media Group reported on Giovani Bernard's status from Bengals practice:

Updates from Monday, Nov. 3

Coley Harvey of ESPN reported on Giovani Bernard from Bengals practice:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 31

ESPN's Coley Harvey has an update on Giovani Bernard's status for Sunday:

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Bengals running back Giovani Bernard, who hasn't practiced all week because of hip and collarbone injuries, will miss his first career game on Sunday, coach Marvin Lewis said Friday.

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Harvey expanded on who will replace Bernard's workload against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday: 

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 30

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com has an update on Giovani Bernard's practice status Thursday:

Richard Skinner on Cincinnati.com shared his thoughts on Bernard's status for Week 9:

Hobson added more on Bernard's status: 

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While Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green began his second straight practice Thursday, running back Giovani Bernard was nowhere to be seen for the second straight day. That would indicate Bernard is going to miss the first game of his two-year NFL career 1 p.m. Sunday against the Jaguars at Paul Brown Stadium.

Bernard, who took numerous shots 11 days ago in Indianapolis before getting 18 touches last week against Baltimore’s rugged seventh-ranked rush defense, is nursing both a shoulder and hip problem and could also be held out of the following Thursday night game against the Browns since there is just a four-day gap.

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Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported the long-term expectation for Bernard's status:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 29

Jay Morrison of Cox Media Group reported on Giovani Bernard's status from Bengals practice:

Original Text

Giovani Bernard left the team's contest against the Ravens due to a hip injury, the Bengals announced.

After sharing the backfield with BenJarvus Green-Ellis in 2013, Bernard has been the undisputed No. 1 running back this season. He's proved to be more than just a receiving threat with his between-the-tackles running.  

Speaking to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com at the end of July, Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson said the second-year back is "so explosive, he can catch the ball, he's a tough son of a gun. He protects. He blocks."

In today's NFL, where pass-blocking is more important than ever, a running back who can step up against the blitz is crucial to being a three-down player. Based on Jackson's comments, it's just one of many things that makes Bernard a special talent. 

Another is his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Coley Harvey of ESPN.com illustrated Bernard's importance to the offense when breaking down a play from last year that showed why the running back warrants more touches this season:

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Take a look at film from Bernard's first home regular-season game last year against Pittsburgh on 'Monday Night Football.' He ripped off a 27-yard touchdown reception that was powered by his speed, agility and the positioning of his blockers deep downfield. It was his only catch in that game, but the screen pass and big gain set the tone for how well he can play if put in the right spaces. 

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Bernard is the kind of running back who best exemplifies today's NFL mold. He had 695 rushing yards and 514 receiving yards last year, providing a safety net for quarterback Andy Dalton, so the pressure is on the other backs on the roster to fill the void. Before exiting in Week 8, Bernard totaled 45 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries while also hauling in two receptions for two yards.

Jeremy Hill has proved to be a great change-of-pace back, and some believe he could be a workhorse if called upon. Having a backup like Hill on the roster is vital to sustaining success through the regular season, but Bernard is the ingredient that makes the whole system work. 

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