Cincinnati Bengals lead running back Chase Brown sat out Saturday night’s crucial game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to his right ankle injury.

Brown worked out on the field prior to the game to see if he could play, but it was quickly determined that he wasn’t moving well enough to suit up. The Bengals then made Brown one of their inactives.

Brown, a second-year pro, falls 10 yards short of his first 1,000-yard rushing season.

Brown was injured during a 30-24 overtime victory against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 28. He was hurt in the fourth quarter when intentionally sliding at the 1-yard line to keep the clock moving.

The 24-year-old has rushed for seven touchdowns and also has 54 receptions for 360 yards and four scores this season.

Khalil Herbert was serving as Cincinnati’s main running back against Pittsburgh. Herbert had rushed eight times for 45 yards in seven games with the Bengals after being acquired from the Chicago Bears in a midseason deal.

The Bengals (8-8) need to beat the Steelers to keep their AFC playoff hopes alive. They trail the Denver Broncos by one game.

–Field Level Media