Bengals rookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick was absent from Monday's practice, reportedly visiting with a doctor regarding soreness in his knee. Originally placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury List with Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome -- a small bone break in his knee with a rehabilitation time of 4-6 weeks -- Kirkpatrick was cleared last week and began practicing.

Head coach Marvin Lewis told Lance McAlister in late July that "it's really a minor injury" and that he doesn't believe that the start of the season is in jeopardy.

According to Lewis, Kirkpatrick's latest setback has to do with soreness in his knee.

If the knee continues being a problem, the Bengals won't be able to place Kirkpatrick on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list because he had already practiced earlier this week. He'll either take a spot on the 53-man roster, whether he can play or not, or go on Injured Reserve. But we're suspecting its the former before going into complete decompression mode just yet.

As of right now the team is unsure if Kirkpatrick can play the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts.