Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga has been ruled out of Monday's game in New York (8:30 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 5 and ESPN) with what head coach Marvin Lewis calls a lower leg injury. But that's about all Lewis knows as the Bengals try to find out if it is serious enough to end his season.
"It's something he's been dealing with," Lewis said after Saturday's walk through at Paul Brown Stadium. "We wanted him to get it looked at to make sure we know what's going on."
Asked if he's concerned it is season ending, Lewis could only offer, "No concern about what I can't control," indicating they're trying to get a better read on it.
Lewis was vague on the return of two players to the roster. Backup nose tackle Brandon Thompson, on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) as he recovers from January ACL surgery, has until the week of Nov. 21 to begin practicing or he's done for the season on injured reserve. But he looks like he's close to taking the field again.
It's harder to tell about two players already on injured reserve, special teams Pro Bowler Cedric Peerman (broken arm) and cornerback William Jackson (torn pectoral). They can start practicing any time from now until the end of the season, but only one of them can return and the other is gone for the season on injured reserve. The debate still seems to be in play.
