Wide receiver Conner Vernon has joined that brief list of Bengals released the day after they scored a touchdown. Usually it happens after the preseason finale, but this one came after Vernon caught a 12-yard pass from quarterback Matt Scott in Thursday night's preseason opener in Kansas City.
With practices changing deeper into the preseason, the Bengals wanted to get lighter at receiver and now have 10 with Friday's release of Vernon and rookie Jeremy Johnson. Also cut was second-year defensive tackle Zach Minter, leaving the Bengals with 86 players, four under the limit.
The Bengals may be adding a quarterback even if tests on backup quarterback Jason Campbell's throwing arm are negative. He took a pretty good shot Thursday night and with the Jets in here in eight days (Aug. 16- 7 p.m.), the Bengals need some health there. Although rookie A.J. McCarron is throwing steadily on the side as he rehabs shoulder tightness, the Bengals don't appear to be close to activating him. After he rested his shoulder in OTAs, he apparently came back too soon and it looks like the Bengals are shelving him indefinitely to make sure he doesn't have another relapse.
