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Palmer to Miss Thursday Preseason Game w/ Ankle Injury

Carson Palmer is expected to miss another preseason game because of a sprained left ankle, leaving the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback with little playing time before the season opener.

Palmer didn't participate in practice Monday and is expected to sit out Thursday night against the St. Louis Rams. That would leave only one more preseason game -- against Indianapolis on Sept. 3 -- but it's unclear whether he'll be able to play in that game, either.

Instead of practicing, Palmer got treatment on the ankle Monday. He also played catch to try to keep his arm in shape.

"I can throw, but not drop back right now," he said. "I'm trying to keep my arm in shape, basically. I'll take it day-to-day."

Palmer is the Bengals' biggest concern with less than three weeks left before the opener on Sept. 13 against Denver at Paul Brown Stadium. He missed a dozen games last season because of a torn ligament and tendon in his passing elbow.

The elbow has healed on its own, allowing Palmer to participate fully in offseason workouts, minicamp and the start of training camp. He suffered a moderate high-ankle sprain when he was hit while throwing a pass during the preseason opener at New Orleans on Aug. 14. He sat out a 7-6 win at New England last week.

Palmer wore an ankle brace on Monday as he walked through the locker room on his way to a meeting. He said the ankle is getting a little better each day, and he would have likely played this week if it was a regular-season game.

"We're being cautious with where we're at," Palmer said. "I've had great work during training camp, but the training staff has decided it's best to have me ready for the opener. I would like to play in every game, I would like to play three quarters in every game. Nobody does that, and obviously I haven't been able to do that."

J.T. O'Sullivan is expected to start Thursday and play with the first-string offense. No. 3 quarterback Jordan Palmer also will play.

With Palmer injured for most of last season, the Bengals' offense finished last in the league. They've moved the ball much better in the first two preseason games, but failed to score because of mistakes. The Bengals have scored two touchdowns in the two games, both on passes from O'Sullivan to Chris Henry.

Coach Marvin Lewis declined to say whether he might play Palmer in the final preseason game to make sure he's sharp for the opener.

"I can't worry about Carson's sharpness right now," Lewis said. "If Carson's in there and playing, then we're fine and we'll go forward. We'll cross that bridge next week."

Source: ESPN

Bengals to Blame for the Andre Smith Holdout?

Andre Smith, a rookie tackle from Alabama taken sixth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2009 draft, remains one of a handful of unsigned first-rounders.

Though Smith has stepped on a few landmines before playing his first NFL down -- he was out of shape this offseason, left the scouting combine early without informing league officials and has had agents going through a revolving door (this after the Crimson Tide suspended him last season) -- the Cincinnati Enquirer suggests the Bengals could be largely to blame for his holdout.

The paper says the Bengals are only offering Smith a contractual package with a total worth of $33 million. Darrius Heyward-Bey, taken seventh overall by the Raiders, received a package worth up to $38 million. Jets QB Mark Sanchez, the No. 5 pick, got a deal worth as much as $60 million.
The Enquirer story did not elaborate on any guaranteed money the Bengals are offering Smith. Heyward-Bey's guarantee was $23.5 million while Sanchez got $28 million.

Source: USAToday

Bengals Afternoon Session Called Due to Thunderstorms

With the Bengals gathered in the locker room waiting for practice, a massive thunderstorm rolled through Georgetown College Tuesday afternoon in a deluge that tossed field equipment all over the lot and left the sidelines swimming in water. The stands were cleared and the facility closed, and head coach Marvin Lewis later called off practice.

The team regrouped for 4 p.m. meetings and 5:30 p.m. dinner before Lewis decided to head out to the main field for a 7:15 p.m. walkthrough with special teams. The rest of the team arrives at 7:30 and they should be off the field by 8:40 with a two-a-day scheduled to begin Wednesday at 9 a.m.

When Lewis met the media Tuesday afternoon, he said he didn't anticipate a drastic change to his schedule because of the missed day. The Bengals were supposed to go over short-yardage and goal-line situations for the first time Tuesday and hit it again Wednesday night. Lewis still expects all of the installation to be in by next Wednesday night, two days before the preseason opener in New Orleans.

If he had known Tuesday would be rained out, Lewis said he would have rested players like SAM linebacker Rashad Jeanty and defensive end Robert Geathers and worked them Monday night.

Georgetown athletic director Eric Ward said the school had to get people out of the stadium because the risk was too great with the lightning. There weren't many people to start with because of the balky weather before the storm, but it's a date the college just doesn't get back and loses a day of revenue.

"It's just not worth the risk with dangerous weather." Ward said.

He says it may have been the biggest rain he's seen here, but he's confident the main field at Toyota Stadium will drain well. But he also said, "We could use some sun.

Source: Bengals

Third-Round Pick DE Michael Johnson and Bengals Agree to Terms

Pro Football Weekly reports that the Bengals have come to terms with third-round pick DE Michael Johnson:

The Bengals and DE Michael Johnson, a third-round pick, reached agreement on a four-year deal on Wednesday, the club's official Web site reported. According to Bengals.com, the contract includes around $863,000 in guaranteed money.

The 6-7, 260-pound Johnson flashed considerable potential in offseason workouts and is expected to contribute as a pass rusher in his first NFL season. The former Georgia Tech star notched nine sacks in 2008. Pro Football Weekly's 2009 Draft Preview noted that Johnson's "physical gifts and pass-rush ability have never been questioned, but huge questions remain about his desire, durability and inability to defend the run on every down."

The Bengals have signed or struck contract agreements with all of their draft picks save first-round selection Andre Smith, an offensive tackle from Alabama.

Source: ProFootballWeekly

Bengals Sign CB Fletcher; CB Jones In a Boot

David Jones has been seen in a boot and he wasn’t in the night practice. Lewis would only call it a “foot injury,” and said Jones wouldn’t practice Saturday night. The Bengals just got a cornerback out of a boot and on to the field when rookie Morgan Trent made a quick recovery from a foot stress fracture. If Jones has something similar, it’s a six-to-eight week injury.

Lewis didn’t sound optimistic. Asked if it was day-to-day he said, “Probably not. The team signed cornerback Jamar Fletcher, who was with the Bengals in 2008, recording 21 tackles, three passes defensed, a fumble recovery and two special-teams tackles” in 11 games played and two starts.

From 2005 until 2008, Fletcher played on four different teams — Chargers, Lions, Texans, and the Bengals.

Source: BengalsGab