Cincinnati Bengals First-Round Pick Injures Knee

When thinking about a young team that is coming off of a playoff season last year, Cincinnati Bengal fans have plenty of reasons to be excited.The Bengals start training camp tomorrow and although Bengal nation is still very optimistic for this upcoming season, they were knocked down a peg or two when news broke late Tuesday night that first-round draft pick Dre Kirkpatrick fractured a bone in his knee and will be out for training camp in its entirety. Dan Hanzus of NFl.com writes:

"Kirkpatrick injured the knee while preparing for training camp, creating a situation where the Bengals could potentially withhold pay from the former Alabama standout. He will fail the team's physical and land on the physically unable to perform list."

 The odds of Kirkpatrick having a big impact on the field this season weren't great anyway. Now, Kirkpatrick could find himself starting the season on the PUP list with fellow defensive back Leon Hall. Kirkpatrick is weak in coverage and would needs to develop before becoming a starter for the Bengals. However, starting his career off with an injury and not being able to start his on-field development definitely hurts any progress coaches had planned for him during training camp.

The Bengals will look to third-year player Brandon Ghee and veterans like Adam "Pacman" Jones to play a major role this season. Their star defensive back Leon Hall is expected to start the season on PUP list for the first six weeks while recovering from an Achilles injury suffered last season.


More news on the Kirkpatrick injury and Bengals training camp news when it breaks.

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick injured himself
"preparing for training camp"
according to sources.

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