Free-agent cornerback Chidobe Awuzie agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans on an undisclosed three-year deal on Monday, according to a source. Awuzie, a former second-round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in 2017 out of Colorado, spent the last three campaigns with the Cincinnati Bengals and produced 57 tackles (43 solo), six passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 15 games (10 starts) for the Bengals last year. The 28-year-old should come to Tennessee as a guaranteed starter as they look to improve their secondary. Awuzie isn't on the IDP fantasy radar entering next season and has a total of 369 tackles (273 solo), six interceptions, 62 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his seven NFL seasons to date.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (knee) was limited in the team's practice on Tuesday. The Bengals didn't hold an official practice on Monday, but Awuzie would have been a limited participant anyway. So, Tuesday's limited practice is on par with that. The Bengals cornerback has not seen as much playing time in 2023 after tearing his ACL last season. He'll have one more chance to practice in full before Thursday's matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. However, he likely isn't a strong IDP play with his low snap share so far this year.
The Cincinnati Bengals placed cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (knee) and offensive tackle Devin Cochran (undisclosed) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Sunday. Awuzie said he's feeling much better, but he's still not fully recovered from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 8 of last year, and the Bengals aren't going to push him onto the practice field to start training camp this summer. Barring a setback in training camp or the preseason, the 28-year-old defensive back should be ready to go for Week 1 of the regular season, but it's not a guarantee. Awuzie only managed to play in eight games in 2022 and finished with 35 tackles (29 solo), five passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Chidobe Awuzie (knee) is nearly a lock to be ready for Week 1, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. Awuzie is currently working his way back from an ACL tear that forced him to miss a good chunk of last season. It sounds like Awuzie is doing great in recent workouts. The Bengals aren't going to rush anything, so Awuzie might be eased in slowly during training camp. However, it sounds like the former second round pick will be ready for the beginning of the season. If that's the case, Awuzie's return will be a huge boost for the Bengals defense.
There is no timetable for Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (knee), who tore his ACL on Halloween last year, but he's confident he'll regain the skills that made him the team's traveling No. 1 cornerback in 2023. "I think my physical capability won't drop off. I feel confident I can come back 100 percent. And even better," Awuzie said. He's also expecting to take on more of a leadership role in the secondary in the wake of the departures of safeties Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell. Awuzie might be able to start cutting as soon as mid-April, five months after his Nov. 16 surgery. While he doesn't have a firm timetable for a return, the 27-year-old is feeling good about his rehab and recovery at this stage of the offseason.
The Cincinnati Bengals placed cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (knee) on the season-ending Injured Reserve after it was confirmed that he suffered a torn ACL in Monday night's loss to the Cleveland Browns. Awuzie has been the team's top cornerback the last two years, so it's a significant loss for their secondary. Cincy will also be without cornerback Mike Hilton (finger) in Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers, while Tre Flowers (hamstring) is questionable to play. Eli Apple (hamstring), who was benched recently, could be forced back into a starting role alongside Cam Taylor-Britt. The Bengals defense/special teams is a popular streaming option this weekend against the Carolina Panthers, but their thin secondary will be tested.
Chidobe Awuzie, Mike Hilton Out For Bengals Defense
The Cincinnati Bengals defense will be without cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie (knee) and Mike Hilton (finger) for a Week 9 meeting with the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. Cornerback Tre Flowers (hamstring) is also questionable, so Cincy's secondary could be very short-handed against quarterback P.J. Walker and Company. It's good news for Panthers receivers D.J. Moore, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. as they try to win their second game without running back Christian McCaffrey, who was traded to the 49ers. The Bengals D/special teams is in play as a streaming option this week against a Panthers offense that has scored under 20 points a game so far this year, but Cincy had one of their worst games on defense in Monday night's loss to the Browns and their secondary is vulnerable.
Chidobe Awuzie Feared To Have Season-Ending Injury
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (knee) is feared to have suffered a season-ending right knee injury in the Monday night loss to the Cleveland Browns and he'll undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday to confirm, according to sources. The belief is that he tore his ACL. The Bengals also lost cornerback Tre Flowers to a hamstring injury in Monday's contest, so Cincy's secondary could be very thin heading into a Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Through eight weeks, the Bengals have allowed 210.4 passing yards per game, but they could become even more generous to opposing QBs with Awuzie likely lost for the rest of the season. The 27-year-old had 35 tackles (29 solo), five passes defensed and a forced fumble through eight starts.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie injured his right knee and will not return in his team's Week 8 game against the Cleveland Browns. Awuzie went down before halftime with the injury and was declared out shortly after, leaving Cincinnati without their starting corner for the remainder of the contest. Stay tuned as the Bengals are likely to update Owuzie's status following the conclusion of Monday's game against Cleveland.
Dallas Expects Chidobe Awuzie, Trevon Diggs Back Wednesday
Dallas Cowboys cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Trevon Diggs (foot) are both anticipated to return to the practice field Wednesday, a step in the right direction for either to return for Sunday's game against San Francisco. Awuzie was absent from Sunday's win over Cincinnati due to COVID-19, while Diggs has been out of the mix since Week 9. Either player returning to the field versus the 49ers would be a major boost for a Cowboys Defense that has been much-maligned in 2020. Awuzie has been a staple of the secondary when healthy, playing nearly every defensive snap, while Diggs has two interceptions across his nine starts. Check back throughout the week to see how both players are progressing, but factoring in their status and the 49ers offensive struggles, attacking the Dallas defense from a fantasy perspective may not be a shrewd play come Week 15.
