4 BENGALS CLOSER TO BEING READY
Bengals players return to practice, aiming to get game-ready.
Rarely is it a good sign to see a handful of players working on the side rehab field, but Monday was one of those times, as four injured Cincinnati Bengals took important steps toward getting ready for the season opener against the Jets on Sept. 11 in New York.
Cornerback Darqueze Dennard (ankle), tight end Tyler Kroft (knee) and right tackle Cedric Ogbuehi (toe) made their first appearances on the rehab field since suffering injuries, while tight end Tyler Eifert, who began side work on his surgically repaired ankle Aug. 4, ran for the first time.
“Going to run today and see how it feels and go from there,” Eifert said Monday morning before practice. “I’m doing everything I can.” Eifert has endured a far more difficult road to recovery than his teammates. He suffered the ankle injury during the Pro Bowl in January and had surgery in late May after it was slow to heal. But he’s no stranger to the rehab process after suffering a season-ending elbow injury in
Week 1 of 2014 and missing three games last year with neck and head injuries.
“You can work as hard as you possibly can and you could be here for 24 straight hours but that’s not going to help it move along faster,” he said.
“You just have to trust the process and be patient with it and do what you can to get better.”
Dennard, who had been in a walking boot since injuring his ankle in practice Aug. 1, and Ogbuehi, who suffered the toe injury in the Aug. 12 preseason opener against Minnesota, also have plenty of experience working with Nick Cosgray, the Bengals’ director of rehabilitation.
Ogbuehi had a torn ACL when the Bengals drafted him in the first round last year, forcing him to work on the side field from the start of training camp until he was activated from the physically unable to perform list after Week 10.
Dennard, the team’s firstround pick in 2014, missed most of his rookie preseason with a hamstring injury and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last year in Week 11.
Tackle Jake Fisher also experienced some encouraging progress, getting out of the walking boot he was wearing after Thursday night’s 30-14 win at Detroit.
“It’s football, man. It happens,” Fisher said.
“I’m just glad I’ll be back here shortly.”
Fisher, who said he should be ready for the season opener, suffered what Lewis called a sprained ankle, but he had braces on both his ankle and knee in the locker room Monday.
Wide receiver Brandon LaFell also appears to be progressing toward making his Bengals debut Sunday night in Jacksonville.
LaFell injured a ligament in his right thumb during a joint practice with the Vikings on Aug. 10 and has not played in either preseason game. He was a full participant during practice Sunday in West Carrollton and again Monday.
Wide receiver Jake Kumerow (hamstring) practiced Sunday and Monday, but wide receiver Mario Alford (ankle) is still in a walking boot after injuring his ankle against the Vikings.
Guard Alex Redmond missed his second consecutive practice with an undisclosed injury suffered against the Lions.
Linebacker Vontaze Burfict also sat out his second consecutive practice as the Bengals begin game-planning for the Jets, which is the first of three games he will miss due to his suspension.