CINCINNATI BENGALS

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Practice

Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening, we'll (TRY TO) update the practice/injury chart leading up to Sunday's game. The chart is pretty self-explanatory. If the player is listed as out, they're out for the game. If they did not participate, they didn't practice. If they were limited, then they only participated during a portion of practice (typically means missing 11-on-11 drills). If the player is listed as full participation, it simply means that they practiced fully and that the only reason they're listed is because injury was an issue the week before.

Practice

A slight complaint was generated against the Chicago Bears when Cedric Benson was still playing in the closing minutes of the Bengals 45-10 win last week. Doesn't that just sound good? Rolls off your tongue. 45-10. Yea. Anyway... Some complained that the Bengals kept Benson in to try and achieve a 200-yard rushing milestone, which he fell 11 yards short of accomplishing.

Most of the complaining came from national figure heads, but some fans complained. The reality is, we discussed last week, the Bengals just didn't have anyone else. Brian Leonard was inactive, though healthy. Bernard Scott and Jeremi Johnson (a fullback that could spell Benson) went down with knee injuries during the game.

On Monday, the Bengals returned to work and both Scott and Johnson didn't practice in the morning, Joe Reedy reports. "Johnson was not on the field but Scott was working out on the side rehab field."

We can pretty much assume, if anything, that Brian Leonard has absolutely no shot at missing Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

However, as Geoff Hobson notes:

Johnson later surfaced in the locker room with an ice pack on his knee and said he'll be ready for Sunday. Scott said he'll be able to practice Wednesday.

More photos » by Mark Duncan - AP

about 1 month ago: Cincinnati Bengals running back Bernard Scott runs for a first down in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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The past two weeks has been somewhat treacherous for the Cincinnati Bengals. Antwan Odom was lost for the year against Houston. Domata Peko suffered a knee injury in the same game that generated enough concern that we wondered if he'd be out for some time. He played against the Bears. Then against the Bears, Jeremi Johnson and Bernard Scott left the game. Marvin Lewis said that Jeremi should be alright and we'd know later about Bernard Scott. Later is now.

On Wednesday, C Trent Rosencrans tweets:

Bernard Scott said the MRI showed no damage in his knee and he should be fine

Scott's injury couldn't have come at a worse time for him personally. Cincinnati dominated the Chicago Bears on Sunday, taking a 31-3 half time lead. Typically during blowout games, backup players tend to get a majority of their work in, during what's called "garbage time". With Brian Leonard inactive, Bernard Scott would have finished the game in place of Benson. When Scott and Jeremi went down, Benson was forced to take the bulk of the carries to finish the game, giving him 37 rushing attempts.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

CHICAGO BEARS

Practice

Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening, we'll (TRY TO) update the practice/injury chart leading up to Sunday's game. The chart is pretty self-explanatory. If the player is listed as out, they're out for the game. If they did not participate, they didn't practice. If they were limited, then they only participated during a portion of practice (typically means missing 11-on-11 drills). If the player is listed as full participation, it simply means that they practiced fully and that the only reason they're listed is because injury was an issue the week before.

Practice

After leaving the field on a cart against the Houston Texans, news about Antwan Odom was bleak. Words like ruptured and torn circulated around his right Achilles. Head coach Marvin Lewis admitted Sunday night that Odom's achilles is torn. Bad news for a guy set to rebound after a terribly disappointing 2008 season, already kicking ass this season.

On Monday, the Bengals officially put Odom on Injured Reserve which, if you haven't picked up on by now, means he's out for the year. Odom underwent surgery to repair his achilles today. Lewis also "said defensive tackle Domata Peko (knee) does not have a severe injury". Peko will be on a day-to-day basis and still could miss Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.

With Odom out, the Bengals will need to rely more on veteran Robert Geathers as well as expand Michael Johnson's playing time. Frostee Rucker, barring the likelihood he'll keep getting hurt, should get playing time also. Jonathan Fanene, whose had a good start this season, could see more playing time rotating with the defensive tackles, as well as playing defensive end because he could be one of the more effective defensive ends right now.

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

19 days ago: Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom (98) is taken off the field after being injured in the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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If it wasn't enough that Cincinnati lost in their most uninspiring game of the season, they likely lost their most productive pass rusher for the entire season. Antwan Odom, a player that had one of the best plays of the day with a blocked field goal, left the game on a cart after Matt Schaub completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Texans' tight end Owen Daniels with a minute left in the first quarter.

Geoff Hobson writes that Odom tore his right achilles.

Lewis said a couple of hours after the Bengals' 28-17 loss to the Texans that Odom's right Achilles is torn. That usually means out for the year, a shame for a guy who had already rung up eight sacks to tie his career best.

The immediate problem now is that the Bengals are suddenly lacking depth and health on the defensive line. Domata Peko is awaiting MRI results after leaving the game on the "Texans’ third snap of the game". Combined that with Frostee Rucker dealing with an ankle injury that kept him out from Sunday's game. Tank Johnson had just returned after missing the past two games, leaving Jonathan Fanene, Pat Sims, Michael Johnson and Robert Geathers are your healthiest players on the defensive line.