Coley Harvey, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

How much heavier is Giovani Bernard's workload?

CINCINNATI -- Amid concerns that Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard's string of injuries are a matter of him taking on a more significant workload than before, we turned to ESPN Stats & Information for help comparing his second year to his rookie season.

A quick glance at Bernard's 2014 numbers show that perceptions are meeting reality. He has indeed touched the ball more so far this season than he did at this point last year.

But is that what's causing the injuries? Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson says no.

"I know because of his size and whatnot, people say that, but I don't believe that's the case," Jackson said. "The things where he was nicked up didn't come from taking too much. It just came from somebody tackling him and hitting him in the right spot."

Let's review the three injuries Bernard has suffered in the last three games:

  • Against the Panthers on Oct. 12, Bernard was said to have had a right shoulder injury after taking a hard hit early in the fourth quarter from Carolina linebacker and Cincinnati native Luke Kuechly. Bernard left briefly and ended up returning to finish the overtime game. Although the injury was termed a "shoulder" injury, trainers were seen working on an area near Bernard's shoulder that was closer to his collarbone. He also grabbed that same area as soon as he tried to get up from Kuechly's hit.

  • Against Indianapolis on Oct. 19, Bernard received bruised ribs when he was blindsided by Colts defensive back Vontae Davis on a screen that Indianapolis read before it developed. Two plays later, he was lit up again when he took a shot to his back on a different screen route. After both hits, Bernard bounced back and finished the game.

  • Against Baltimore last week, he didn't return when he suffered a hip injury in the fourth quarter. He hasn't practiced all week and has been listed on the injury report as having hip and clavicle injuries.

Back to Bernard's workload. What about it has increased?

Almost everything.

He has more carries, targets, routes, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and a higher rushing average than he did after seven games last season. He also has been on the field more. He also has, from a percentage standpoint, slightly more carries between the tackles this season compared to last year.

Does any of it explain Bernard's sudden propensity for injury? At this still fairly early stage of the season, no. Later in the year, though, if these statistical trends keep up and Bernard's production slips, a real case could be made that wear and tear have slowed him down.

For now, perhaps Jackson is right? Maybe Bernard has simply been a victim of good, hard tackles at inopportune times.

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