Updated: 8:20 p.m.
Right end Antwan Odom, who began Sunday as the NFL sack leader, ended Monday on season-ending injured reserve after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles.
Also Monday, head coach Marvin Lewis said that rookie right tackle Andre Smith returns to practice Wednesday and will do some work as trainers monitor the response of his broken foot before letting him participate in everything. Lewis hopes to have the No. 1 pick full speed by the time the Bengals host the Ravens Nov. 8.
Also Lewis said defensive tackle Domata Peko (knee) does not have a severe injury and that the coaches will see how he is later in the week. Lewis said the Bengals will look to add another defensive lineman with Odom on IR, but with Jon Fanene set to replace Odom and Michael Johnson and Frostee Rucker backing up Fanene and Rucker, they could be looking to get another tackle since they already have four ends. With Peklo hobbled and the two other tackles nicked (Tank Johnson with a torn foot ligament and Pat Sims with an arm injury), the Bengals could activate Clinton McDonald from the practice squad or look elsewhere.
Smith may be joined soon by fellow rookie Chase Coffman as the tight end from Missouri waits to be activated for the first time this season. In the wake of a tough game for tight ends Dan Coats and J.P. Foschi on Sunday, offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowksi didn't sound ready to make a massive change but did say Coffman, a third-round pick, is progressing enough to perhaps surface soon. But he indicated it wouldn't be initially to replace Coats or Foschi.
"He could be pretty close to playing at some point here soon and then we'll find out where he's at," Bratkowski said. "What his strengths are, what we'll be able to use him to do and what he needs work on. Those are the things (to watch) when he does start to get playing time."
Lewis and Bratkowski indicated that much depends on the state of special teams and with the Bengals in the teeth of a stretch against top returners (hello Devin Hester this Sunday), Lewis sounded like he wasn't ready to put Coffman out there to do things he didn't do much in college.
It looks like running back Brian Leonard (groin) is going to be ready Sunday after missing the Texans game.
Bratkowski's take on center Kyle Cook's play against the Texans in pretty much his first look at a 4-3 defense: "Good." But while the Bengals did a good job on the Texans' down linemen, Bratkowski said the Bengals offensive line had problems blocking the disciplined Houston linebackers.
Defensive tackle Tank Johnson never backs down from a question and so on Monday he said the Bengals could have played with better effort on defense when it came to tackling and said mental errors were "uncharacteristic" of what he called a "try-hard" group.
