The Bengals linebackers just can't avoid the cascade of injuries this season. They lost backup outside backer Jayson DiManche for the season with a broken arm in Sunday's 14-13 victory in Tampa Bay.
DiManche, a second-year college free agent, played in 61 snaps from scrimmage this season, the bulk of them when all three starting backers went out against the Colts back on Oct. 19. He was a core special teamer and went into Sunday with three teams tackles, eighth on the team, and he also had a forced fumble.
Pro Bowl WILL linebacker Vontaze Burfict (knee) has missed the last five games and middle linebacker Rey Maualuga played his third straight game Sunday after missing four with a hamstring issue. It's believed the Bengals are going to hold tryouts Tuesday to replace DiManche on the roster.
One candidate is L.J. Fort, signed to the practice squad last week. He's a second-year player who played his lone game this season with Seattle Nov. 2 after playing the preseason in Denver. He played 16 games for Cleveland in 2012 after signing as a college free agent and had 13 tackles, one sack, one interception, three passes defensed and seven special teams tackles.
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