Bengals safety Vonn Bell was questionable for tonight’s game against Washington with a back injury that limited him in practice all week, but he’s active tonight. That’s a big clue considering Bell has become a linchpin in the resurgence of the Bengals secondary by stopping the run of explosive plays that plagued them last season.

Cincinnati’s other inactive players include the expected absences of both starting defensive tackles and the first inactive game of the season for receiver Trenton Irwin.

Defensive tackle Domenique Davis was called up from the practice squad for the game and will fill a position that has been under fire due to serious injuries. Rookie Kris Jenkins Jr. will make his NFL debut but will play with a club on his hand due to thumb surgery. They will play 34-year-old Lawrence Guy, who they signed off the street, as well as Zach Carter and Jay Tufele, who were slated as third-stringers when camp began. Meanwhile, Washington rushed for 215 yards against the Giants last week and will test that weakness often.

It’s a big night for the rookie class with Amarius Mims (pec) making his NFL debut. He seemed destined to be the Opening Day starter at right tackle after a fantastic offseason and training camp, but he pulled his pectoral muscle on Aug. 10 against Tampa Bay in the preseason. It’s unclear how much he’ll play tonight, but look for usage in jumbo sets at the very least with the potential to rotate with current right tackle Trent Brown. Jenkins will make his debut and Jermaine Burton will be favored over Trenton Irwin in the first game with Tee Higgins (hamstring) active. Burton had his most impactful play last week against Kansas City with a 47-yard reception and could be targeted in specific packages against a Washington team prone to the deep ball.