The Bengals' first injury report of the year Wednesday had a relieved tight end Tyler Eifert (back), linebacker Vincent Rey (ankle) and tight end Mason Schreck (toe) full go for Sunday's opener (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 12) in Indy and before practice Eifert said it's the best he's felt in two years.
Since when? Since 11:13 left in the fourth quarter of the 2015 Pro Bowl on Jan. 31, 2016 in Honolulu, Hawaii. That's when he caught a short 11-yard pass down the left side from Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston for Eifert's first Pro Bowl catch. Then on the next play Eifert went diving for a Winston pass in the end zone, tore ankle ligaments and has played just six games since with back issues.
But he says it's the best he's felt since then.
"I feel like every injury has been somewhat of a fluke thing," said Eifert, who says he's just not thinking about it. "That's not even a thought when I go out there. I feel great right now, confident and ready to go … It's part of the game. It happens. I'm past it and moving forward."
_One starter, left tackle Cordy Glenn (shoulder), and two special teams regulars, free safety Clayton Fejedelem (calf) and cornerback Tony McRae (ankle) went limited Wednesday, but it's believed they'll be able to play. Wide receiver Cody Core (back) didn't practice and hasn't for the last three weeks and probably won't be ready.
_In some ways, giving right guard Alex Redmond his first NFL start in an opener is the anti-Marvin Lewis option. But, in another way, Redmond is the kind of offensive lineman Lewis loves.
"He is by nature a physical person. If I were to go down an alley, he'd be the first person I'd find in that locker room to take with me," Lewis said before Wednesday's practice. "No doubt about it. That's what you would want, because he's going to go down with you and he's going to go down swinging."
_Lewis tried to put Bengaldom at ease that former Bengals H-Back Ryan Hewitt, recently signed by the Colts, has stolen the game plan and given it to his new team. Lewis says he didn't unveil to the players until Sunday, a day after Hewitt was cut. But it happens all the time. The next team they play after the Colts is the Ravens, where former Bengals wide receivers coach James Urban is the quarterbacks coach.
"We're well aware of the process. There is nothing that leaves here which is going to pertain to (our game plan) for Sunday that hasn't already been changed and adjusted," Lewis said. "We have James Urban a couple states over in Baltimore and we play (the Ravens) early too. Anything that was left over offensively has already been revised.
"We don't put in game plans (during training camp). We talk about it, but now we focus on it since we have an opponent."
