Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals Pro Bowl RB Joe Mixon tests positive for COVID-19, out Week 18 vs. Browns

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/5/22

The Cincinnati Bengals will reportedly be without the NFL's second-leading rusher in Week 18 vs. the Cleveland Browns.

Bengals’ Pro-Bowl RB Joe Mixon tested positive today for COVID-19 and will be out Sunday vs. the Browns, per league sources.

One day earlier, the Bengals placed S Vonn Bell, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, DE Trey Hendrickson, C Trey Hopkins, G Quinton Spain on the reserve/COVID-19 list
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2022

Mixon also ranks third in the league in both rushing touchdowns (13) and rushing attempts (292). The Bengals -- who have clinched the AFC North division and would be the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs if the season ended today -- take on the Browns at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Mixon is in his fifth NFL season -- all with Cincinnati -- and his rushing attempts, rushing touchdowns and rushing yards (1,205) are all career-highs. He's also added 42 receptions on 48 targets for a career-best 314 yards and three touchdowns this season.

The 25-year-old has tallied three games of at least 100 rushing yards this year and scored two touchdowns in three straight games in Weeks 9, 11 and 12. The trio of contests were part of a six-game stretch where Mixon registered eight rushing scores and one receiving touchdown as well.

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