The hidden treasure when Mike Nugent suffered a calf injury earlier this month is that the team signed Josh Brown, who has converted every field goal he's attempted. Obvious confidence with a veteran kicker legging field goals as deep as 52 yards has allowed the Bengals to ease Nugent back to health on his own terms. And he might not be ready by the Week 16 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday, writes Geoff Hobson with Bengals.com.

"It's one of those things you keep trying to go out there and make it feel better every day," said Nugent, who has sat out the last two games while Josh Brown has made all six of his field-goal tries. "It feels better every day. Treatment and time."

Brown has converted six field goals on six attempts, including a perfect four field goals against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago.

Questions for next season may suggest a position battle between Nugent and Brown, both of whom are playing on one-year contracts, depending on how the year ends. But questions for this weekend tends to suggest that Brown will be active against the Steelers this Sunday.