As the Bengals close in on their most important game of the season so far, against the (6-3) Steelers in Cincinnati, their practice reports aren't necessarily something that we are encouraged by. A season high 11 players are on the list and some of those players are crucial to the team's early-season success. Jermaine Gresham missed practice on Thursday after he had a limited practice on Wednesday. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap missed his second straight practice as did tight end Donald Lee. Both safety Chris Crocker and cornerback Nate Clements returned to practice fully on Thursday, though.
For the Steelers, who probably view this game as being just as important as the Bengals do, have still missed having Troy Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley on the field yet this week as they both missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Linebacker James Harrison was also limited in practice on Thursday.
Here is each team's Thursday practice report.
BENGALS | WED | THUR | FRI | STATUS |
WR Andre Caldwell (groin) | LP | LP | ||
CB Nate Clements (knee) | DNP | FP | ||
S Chris Crocker (knee) | DNP | FP | ||
DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) | DNP | DNP | ||
TE Jermaine Gresham (hamstring) | LP | DNP | ||
LB Thomas Howard (hamstring) | LP | LP | ||
CB Adam Jones (hamstring) | LP | DNP | ||
TE Donald Lee (foot) | DNP | DNP | ||
RB Brian Leonard (knee) | DNP | LP | ||
LB Rey Maualuga (ankle) | LP | LP | ||
T Andre Smith (toe) | LP | LP | ||
Steelers | WED | THUR | FRI | STATUS |
WR Arnaz Battle (hamstring) | DNP | DNP | ||
WR Jerricho Cotchery (knee) | DNP | FP | ||
LB James Farrior (calf) | FP | FP | ||
G Doug Legursky (toe) | FP | FP | ||
S Troy Polamalu (rib) | DNP | DNP | ||
WR Emmanuel Sanders (knee) | DNP | DNP | ||
LB Stevenson Sylvester (knee) | DNP | FP | ||
WR Hines Ward (head) | FP | FP | ||
LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) | DNP | DNP | ||
LB James Harrison (toe) | -- | LP |
DNP - Did Not Participate
LP - Limited Participation
FP - Full Participation