The Debrief: If you played tight end in high school, the Bengals could use you

The Debrief is out and it’s Steelers week. A few transactions occurred and the first Bengals practice of the week is in the books.

NOTE: We took Monday and Tuesday off, so this is the first Debrief of the week. We’ll cover a fews items from those days as well.

1) Bengals tight end Tyler Kroft suffered a foot injury during Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins — he played a handful of snaps after returning. The foot is still a problem with Kroft sporting a boot in Cincinnati’s locker room Wednesday. Kroft, who secured 42 receptions for 404 yards and seven touchdowns last year, has been relatively quiet with four catches this season.

Bengals sign another tight end. Looking to fill their depleted ranks at tight end, Cincinnati signed Matt Lengel off Houston’s practice squad. The vacancy on the 53-man roster was opened after Cincinnati released running back Thomas Rawls on Tuesday. Lengel:

spent the 2015 season and half of the 2016 season on Cincinnti’s practice squad. He also has spent time in the 2016 and ’17 seasons on the active rosters of the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns. He has played in six NFL games, with career regular-season totals of two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown.

Cincinnati reportedly worked out tight end Clive Walford earlier this week.

Heading into Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals roster of tight ends will be C.J. Uzomah, Mason Schreck, and Lengel, with Kroft likely shelved (though not yet ruled out).

2) The Dallas Cowboys signed cornerback CJ. .Goodwin off Cincinnati’s practice squad Tuesday. Cincinnati quickly replenished the loss on Wednesday by signing cornerback Demetrious Cox, who spent the 2017 summer with the Bengals before being waived during final roster cuts. At that point, he was signed promptly off waivers by the Panthers.

“When Demetrious got claimed a year ago, we had plans for him. It’s good we got two guys (TE Matt Lengel) back today that can help us the rest of the year,” said head coach Marvin Lewis.

3) The Bengals game against Kansas City was flexed, the league announced on Tuesday. Fears of the team’s primetime performance increases among many of us.

4) Will John Ross or Giovani Bernard play? Wide receiver John Ross stretched with the team and was a limited participant Wednesday. Running back Giovani Bernard worked on the rehab field.

Marvin would not rule out Gio or Ross. Said both working hard to be able to go Sunday. “It’s simple around here. You have to practice to play.” Practice starts at 1 and we’ll see if either is out there and in what capacity.

— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) October 10, 2018

The Bernard reference is a bit surprising, considering that he’s expected out another week (at least) and maybe through the end of the month, with an MCL sprain. It’ll be a relief to see Mixon and Bernard in the same backfield again.

5) Clint Boling missed practice too. The Debrief won’t speculate why Boling missed practice Wednesday; he participated in every offensive snap last week against Miami, so sitting out could simply be the result of some much needed rest. But he’s listed with a hip injury on the report.

Reading:

• John Sheeran’s weekly lineman series, a must-read, covers the team’s run blocks and pass rushes.
• Anthony Cosenza’s weekly Armchair Quarterback covers the team’s “creative ways to win.”
• Matt Minich reviews Andy Dalton’s performance against the Miami Dolphins.

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