Bengals Linebacker Keith Rivers Season Is Over: Placed On The Reserve/Non-Football Injury List

by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 29, 2011 4:47 PM EST in Injury

Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Keith Rivers was finally placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list, announced the team on Tuesday, without participating in a single game this season -- which is similar to Injured Reserve. When Rivers arrived in training camp this season, he surprised many (at least the media and fans) after recently under-going wrist surgery that was originally expected to keep him out through September. The surgery was later described by one team source as a "rebuilding of the wrist."

After sitting on the Active/Non-Football Injury list throughout preseason, Rivers was placed on the Reserve/NFI list at the start of the regular season, opening a spot on the 53-man roster, though making him ineligible through the first six weeks into the 2011 regular season. After being granted an exception to rejoin the team earlier this month, the Bengals were forced to make a decision by Tuesday's deadline -- place him on the 53-man roster, Injured Reserve or releasing him through an injury settlement.

This won't be the first time Rivers' season will end with an injury. In 2008 the Bengals ninth overall draft pick suffered a broken jaw during week seven against the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending a rookie season where he lead the team with 51 tackles.

Despite being the source of fan frustration for his lack of big plays, during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Rivers ranked second in tackles behind Dhani Jones each season. Additionally Rivers posted the lowest average yards on tackles compared to the team's other linebackers.

Signed through the 2012 season, Rivers' return would be obvious insurance with Manny Lawson and Brandon Johnson playing on one-year contracts that will expire at the end of the season. Depending on what the team does in free agency or the NFL draft, it's possible that Rivers could be released before next season, but more likely he'll return as one of five linebackers (Rey Maualuga, Thomas Howard, Dontay Moch and Roddrick Muckelroy) signed beyond the 2011 season.

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Total waste of a first round pick

Should have taken Jerrod Mayo dammit

by Diesel2405 on Nov 29, 2011 4:48 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Shaping up to be bust

by WhoDeyTim on Nov 29, 2011 4:57 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I thought Howard signed a two year deal ????

hindsight is always 20/20. It’s easy to look back and say we should have taken this guy instead of that one. We took Rivers. NE takes Mayo. Last year in round 2 NE took Florida DE Cunningham right before the Bengals took Dunlap. A bust is someone who completely misses expectations. Has Rivers lived up to being the ninth best player overall ? No, but he has started and accumulated a number of tackles and the reason he isn’t playing is because he’s injured. Aaron Curry couldn’t make the starting lineup and got traded for a low draft pick. He would be considered a bust. Rivers isn’t a bust.

by redberkey on Nov 29, 2011 5:04 PM EST reply actions

RE:

It’s a two-year deal. I had them lumped together in our spreadsheet.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 29, 2011 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

Rivers is a bust and a waste of a pick.

Rivers was not that good in College however Mayo was. And I’m not looking back saying it, I said it at the time and was pissed they drafted a USC product and not an actual player like Mayo. Rivers is a walking injury.

by Diesel2405 on Nov 30, 2011 9:14 AM EST up reply actions

Agree, Rivers is just a solid LB.........

he’s never going to be flashy I don’t think, he’s just average to slightly above. I wouldn’t call him a bust because he is an NFL caliber starter, but he’s not exactly been a difference maker either. I think this year shows that as much as anything, we filled the hole at the last minute and didn’t miss a beat (improved actually).

by The Van Buren Boys on Nov 29, 2011 5:08 PM EST reply actions

Plus, what the heck did he do to his wrist?

We’ll probably never know, but was it a Kellen Winslow joy ride on a motorcycle that did it or what?

by The Van Buren Boys on Nov 29, 2011 5:16 PM EST reply actions

Mystery Injury

I’d definitely like to know more about this injury. First it was supposed to keep him out for a month or two. Then it was a few months longer. Now it’s all season.

I wonder if he’s even on pace to participate in the offseason program?

by C1ncy4Life on Nov 29, 2011 5:28 PM EST up reply actions

Wasn't he playing pickup basketball?

by GrooveLeg on Nov 30, 2011 9:20 AM EST up reply actions

Allow me to clarify

I agree Rivers is solid and dependable, but I expect 1st rounders to be game changers (Palmer, Jjoe, Hall, Green). If Rivers was a 3rd rounder I wouldn’t expect much and be thrilled with his performance thus far, but a top 10 pick, I was hoping for a Ray Lewis or Clay Matthews

by WhoDeyTim on Nov 29, 2011 5:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions

While neither of those players were top 10 picks.

I get your point. Im Just saying.

CincyJungle.com Contributor for the NFL Draft

Follow me on Twitter @JoeGoodberry for Bengals & NFL Draft talk

by Joe Goodberry on Nov 29, 2011 5:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Game changers

LOL, Palmer was game changer by throwing TD’s to the other team

by biggie22 on Nov 29, 2011 8:59 PM EST up reply actions

Caused by system and wr's not all palmer

Seems to be playing pretty well in Oakland

by Diesel2405 on Nov 30, 2011 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

...

with a 3:4 TD/INT ratio…. 6 TDs and 8 INTs…

by Oregonbengalsfan on Nov 30, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Too Much Exceptations Coming outta USC to the Bengals to Make an Impact

I know i know hes a 1st round pick
Come on guys, Rivers hasnt been the same after That dirty player broke is jaw
after that, he just lost his focus about going out their and hit people with authority now he just seemed to be a solid player

I dont want to regret anything, but i think Mayo was the safer bet coming out in 08 draft,
and maybe i think he still has a bright future, but how do you have a Hall of Fame Career Numbers if your always hurt??

If Next year Rivers Tear it up would that change all of your guys mind about the guy??
how about 100+ tackles and 6 FF and 2 INT next year?? will that be enough??

by Touhue Cha on Nov 29, 2011 5:24 PM EST reply actions

Let's see it first.

I’m not a Rivers “hater” necessarily but this is a very strange situation and I would like to know more about it. Just seems really unusual.

by C1ncy4Life on Nov 29, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

Its maybe more than his Wrist

i think they dont want to rush him back if it didnt properly heal or something happen unless he re injured his wrist again and they dont want us to know

if hes not Healthy please dont bring him back, let him get ready for next year Please

by Touhue Cha on Nov 29, 2011 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

Cant work out with an injured wrist.

Think about it. There is no way he could have kept his body in football shape without using his wrist in the weight room. Upperbody, back, core, everything cept leg press.

by UIsteve on Nov 29, 2011 10:11 PM EST up reply actions

Thats why they IR him so he doesnt hurt himself even more

he isnt a disappointment just injury prone ATM and if he can be healthy next year and tear it up its gonna be a different story

by Touhue Cha on Nov 29, 2011 11:06 PM EST up reply actions

Wrist

When i played foot ball i broke my wrist and the doc said it would heal no problem. When back a couple of weeks later and the Doc said they had to RE-SET my bone AGAIN. So add up all that time …………….

Now he has to get strength back in it and not only that he has to make sure it does not happen again by coming back to soon.

So even tho i traded you on my madden football …. Im still glad your with the orange and black and i know you will be back to bring the pain again……

Do you know what a super man Ass Whooping is ?... Its the type of Ass Whooping you wish you could Fly away from !....

by 77CincyRage on Nov 29, 2011 5:27 PM EST reply actions

four scenarios

1) Rivers is traded or released in 2012. No longer a Bengal.

2) Rivers learns a new position and attempts to take over for Manny Lawson.

3) Howard is injured or underperforms, allowing Rivers a chance to win his job back.

4) Rivers takes a pay cut and joins the Bengals LB depth chart.

" Mike Brown is the owner that Cincy doesn't deserve, not the one it needs..."

by palewook on Nov 29, 2011 5:36 PM EST reply actions

I'll take

by joeb698 on Nov 29, 2011 7:55 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

# 3 if not then # 4

by Touhue Cha on Nov 29, 2011 8:17 PM EST up reply actions

In other injury related news:

Steelers feel confident Troy Polamalu will play this Sunday because test show he doesn’t have concussion like symptons. <—- I call BS on that but it looks like he will play this Sunday.

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Nov 29, 2011 6:51 PM EST reply actions

I have a vet strong feeling

That in 10-15 year Troy is not going to be doing well health wise. He just doesn’t care if he has a concussion or not and he’s had like 20.

Yes I'm a Bengals fan

by Helmsy on Nov 29, 2011 10:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

RE:

As many as that player has had in his career I fear that he will be fighting the cat lady for the last cup of pudding at the rest home before he is forty years old.

The cause for him is his lousy tackling technique and always trying to drive his head through the oppponent. I hope, from a prospective (sp) of my career as an athletic trainer, that he does not suffer long term damage after his retirement.

That being said, he is still the most overrated player in the league. That team may win more with him in, but they are not statistically different with or without him.

I say just beat those guys.

by david in upstate SC on Nov 30, 2011 7:50 AM EST up reply actions

This makes me worried that Keith is a victim of the Bengals training staff

Their expectations of his comeback was off pretty substantially and I don’t know the ins and outs of it, but I’m pretty sure they go with their own surgeons and all other medical personnel. The fact it isn’t a knee doesn’t necessarily make the procedure less complicated, and I’m sure a lot of weird things can go wrong, but they wanted this guy back by camp and now will have missed a lot of time.

His status for next year is one to question. There may be a new coordinator in place if Zimmer is lured to greener pastures. The current crop of LBs is pretty good and bringing in some more draft picks could easily float Rivers out to sea. Muckleroy will be back next year, and Dontay Moch might turn out okay too. The more I think about it, the more I would be surprised if he does return. Seattle might be a good fit.

B. Clifton Burke

by Mojokong on Nov 29, 2011 7:19 PM EST reply actions

And while we're at it

We’ll take one of there corners

Yes I'm a Bengals fan

by Helmsy on Nov 29, 2011 10:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Truth is....

the weak side linebacker and middle linebacker should lead your team in tackles since they are involved on most plays….Rivers and Maualuga are both very average…Thomas Howard has looked slightly above average…..Manny Lawson its too hard to tell as a fan how hes doing because the strong side backer does all of the dirty work. Mike Zimmer has alot of mediocre linebackers that hes performing miracles with. Yes 9th over all was way to good of a spot to pick Rivers (especially since he can’T cover tight ends).

by Tim8194 on Nov 30, 2011 12:57 AM EST reply actions