Andre Smith
Andre Smith surfaced when the Bengals reported to training camp Wednesday, but the starting right tackle won't get on the field when they start practice Thursday afternoon because of a calf injury.
It's not believed to be serious and he should be able to work fairly soon, but it did land him on the Active/Non-Football Injury list along with backup running back Cedric Peerman (ankle).
Wednesday's moves indicated three players that didn't practice in the spring—left tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee), cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (knee), center Trevor Robinson (shoulder)—are good to go in the 3 p.m. workout that is the last one closed to the public before Friday's 3 p.m. practice at Paul Brown Stadium
Even though he's not suiting up, Smith figures to command a lot of attention. After signing a three-year deal that can max out at about $18 million in April, he didn't report to the voluntary workouts or the mandatory minicamp because of what the Bengals said were personal reasons.
But the word is that Smith looked in good shape and he reportedly appeared to be at around his playing weight.
Also not on the field Thursday are backup quarterback Zac Robinson (elbow), fullback Chris Pressley (knee), backup running back Bernard Scott (knee), backup wide receiver Tyrone Goard (finger), and backup wide receiver Brandon Tate (hamstring) in the category of Active/Physically Unable To Perform List.
And tight end/long snapper Bryce Davis, who reported under the weather, starts on the Active/Non-Football Illness list. The most serious injury could belong to Robinson, expected to rest his elbow for a few weeks.
All seven players count against the roster and can practice once they're cleared. Scott, who is coming off an October ACL surgery, and Pressley, who injured his knee late last season, could be candidates for the Reserve/PUP list that comes out at final cuts on Aug. 31 depending on their progress. If they don't practice during the preseason, they can go on Reserve/PUP and won't be able to practice for the first six weeks of the regular season.
Peerman's injury isn't believed to be serious, but he also didn't practice all spring with a foot injury. With Scott also shelved, rookie running backs Giovani Bernard and Rex Burkhead are going to get plenty of work behind veterans BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Dan Herron.
