Bengals activate Pro Bowl RB Joe Mixon, six others off reserve/COVID-19 list

The Bengals are getting back one of their top playmakers just in time for the playoffs.

Cincinnati activated seven players off the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, including star running back Joe Mixon. Offensive linemen Trey Hopkins and Quinton Spain; defensive linemen Trey Hendrickson, Larry Ogunjobi and B.J. Hill; and safety Vonn Bell were also activated.

Mixon, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, rejoins a hot Bengals team set to host the Raiders in next weekend's wild-card round. Cincinnati won three in a row before losing its regular-season finale as several starters took the week off for rest in addition to those who were out due to COVID-19 protocols.

Despite missing that last game, Mixon set new career-highs in both rushing and receiving categories this season. He racked up 1,205 yards on the ground, a new benchmark, while shattering his previous top mark by scoring 13 rushing touchdowns. He also reeled in a career-high 314 receiving yards on 42 catches, scoring three times.

Since being picked in the second round of the 2017 draft out of Oklahoma, Mixon has totaled 4,564 rushing and 1,322 receiving yards while scoring 33 times on the ground and eight through the air. He missed most of the 2020 season with a foot injury but was fully healthy in 2021 until hitting the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Cincinnati and Las Vegas will kick off wild-card round action on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. EST.