Could Be Lost For The Year: Mike Nugent Suffers Possible ACL And MCL Injury

Bengals place kicker Mike Nugent has only converted 78.9% of his field goal attempts this season, which is worse than any season with Shayne Graham whose lowest field goal conversion with the Bengals was 82.1% during his final season with Cincinnati in 2009. Nugent missed a field goal against the Browns; a game in which the Bengals lost by three points. Nugent also missed two field goals against the Pittsburgh Steelers; a game in which the Bengals lost by six points.

Yet if the Bengals successfully capitalized on their onside recovery late in the game, Nugent would be most remembered for that kick.

Instead, that kick could be Nugent's final act as a Cincinnati Bengal this season. After kicking the football, Nugent trailed the kick and decided to cut like Barry Sanders, injuring his knee to the point that he was literally picked up off the ground by two teammates, just like a pissed off owner would carry a cat when the water gun was out of ammunition.

After the game, Nugent was reportedly on crutches and it's generally feared that he's lost for the season with an ACL and MCL injury. "It doesn't look good," Nugent said.

As if the football Gods weren't pissed off enough with the Bengals, Dave Rayner, the place kicker that lost out to Nugent during training camp and the preseason, was signed last week by the Detroit Lions, filling in for injured Jason Hanson. Shayne Graham also signed last week with the New England Patriots after Stephen Gostkowki suffered an injury.