Right when the Bengal’s defense was getting underway with promising young stars on the rise to revamped their defense, a few players have hit a speed bump with injuries that will slow their development.
First round corner Dre Kirkpatrick is out for a few more weeks with a leg injury and defensive end Robert Geathers is out undergoing knee surgery. That is not all the news going on around the Who Dey Nation as former first round defensive end Derrick Harvey out of Florida was released today, partly due to the injury issues, particularly at corner. The Bengals needed to create space on the depth chart for returning players as they come back from injuries and to fill the void at corner. They were forced to sign and move wide receiver Taveon Rogers to corner to fill the void from the lack of healthy corners. This is particularly a concern given the 90-man roster at this point in camp.
Kirkpatrick was definitely missed in the Bengals first mock game this Sunday night. Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green exploited inexperienced corners in front of 6,500 fans in Cincinnati by hauling in almost everything thrown in his direction.
The Bengals are looking to rotate eight defensive linemen during the season, reminiscent of changing lines in hockey, making it a battle between Jamaal Anderson and Pat Sims for that final spot. The secured players would have to be Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins, Domata Peko, Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson, Robert Geathers, Devon Still, and Brandon Thompson.
With one week until the Bengals preseason opener against the New York Jets, those players who want to make the 53-man roster will have to step it up a notch before they take the field against Mark Sanchez and the most famous backup quarterback in the NFL, Tim Tebow, on August 10, 2012.
By Jameel Shareef
