Updated: 8:50 p.m.
With the opening of training camp 48 hours away, the immediate cornerback picture seemed to be clearing up.
With first-rounder Dre Kirkpatrick expected to miss a month with a leg condition that won't impact him long-term, all indications were that Adam Jones is going to be able to line up for the first practice after missing a chunk of the spring with a hamstring problem.
And Leon Hall, the starting right corner making a big-time recovery from his torn Achilles, figures to make an appearance this first weekend of practices and maybe even take that first snap on Friday. That's been his goal since back in November, a week after undergoing surgery following his injury in the Nov. 13 loss to the Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium.
But it won't be a surprise if the Bengals go slower with starting left corner Nate Clements after he missed all of the spring workouts with a pulled abdominal muscle. If he's not back in time to get ready for the Aug. 4 intrasquad scrimmage, no one is thinking he'll also miss the Aug. 10 preseason opener at PBS against the Jets.
In an appearance Wednesday evening with Lance McAlister on 700 WLW-AM, head coach Marvin Lewis said he didn't think Kirkpatrick's injury would prevent him from playing at the beginning of the regular season and called it "minor." Asked if Hall is going to be available, Lewis said he was on schedule to reach his goal.
ZIMMER EXTENDED: If you read between the lines at Tuesday's media luncheon, you figured defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer had reached a contract extension beyond this season. And on Wednesday, the Bengals confirmed it but didn't say for how long but it can be assumed it goes beyond next year, too.
Zimmer, who has re-upped for the second time, had two head-coaching opportunities this past February when he interviewed in Miami and Tampa Bay. The Bengals lock up one of their most successful coordinators in history as he guns for a third top 10 finish in the NFL rankings in his fifth Bengals season. The only comparable run was when the Bengals did it four out of the five years from 1972-76 under Chuck Weber and Howard Brinker.
The move comes a few months after the Bengals gave offensive coordinator Jay Gruden a three-year extension and they opened extension talks with head coach Marvin Lewis.
THOMPSON COMPLETES IT: Third-round pick Brandon Thompson became the last Bengals draft pick to sign his deal Wednesday. Which means in both years of the new collective bargaining agreement's rookie wage scale the Bengals have signed all their picks before the heavy lifting begins.
The 6-2, 320-pound Thompson is a weight-room maven and says he's squatted about 600 pounds, benched about 500, and reps 225 pounds between 36 and 40 times. He's a stout, nose tackle type that's going to be ticketed to work behind Domata Peko and Pat Sims.
