Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon played a key role in his team’s Thursday Night Football win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Mixon returned twice after going to the locker room with a knee injury because it was a close game. Mixon left in the first half, returned briefly in the second, then had some key carries on the injured knee in the fourth quarter, setting up a Randy Bullock field goal that secured the game.

But he paid a price and might need an operation to clean up the issue:

The #Bengals fear RB Joe Mixon will need arthroscopic surgery to clean up the knee he injured in last night’s win over the #Ravens and miss some time, sources tell @MikeGarafolo and me. He’ll get a second opinion first. — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 14, 2018

While arthroscopic surgery isn’t too severe, it’s enough to likely keep Mixon out of Week 3 on the road against the Carolina Panthers.

Mixon is one of many injuries the Bengals piled up in the gritty AFC North battle — a victory sending the Bengals to 2-0. First-round center Billy Price suffered a foot injury and defensive end Michael Johnson will miss some time with a knee problem.

If Mixon has to miss time, Giovani Bernard is the starter with either Tra Carson or rookie Mark Walton backing him up. It’s a huge blow for the offense given the difference in productivity at every level with Mixon on the field compared to off it.