Bengals Place Safety Chris Crocker And Defensive End Frostee Rucker On IR

The Cincinnati Bengals secondary is a mess. With Jonathan Joseph reaggrevating his high ankle sprain against the Buffalo Bills, the Bengals were left with Rico Murray and Brandon Ghee, who is dealing with a groin injury, covering receivers opposite of Leon Hall. And much earlier in the same game, safeties Roy Williams left with a concussion and Chris Crocker left with a torn ACL in his knee. Oh, and Tank Johnson and Frostee Rucker didn't play with their own respective knee injuries.

Not that having five guys that started games this year is any excuse for giving up 49 points, most of which were after both starting safeties and one half of the starting cornerback were already gone. But it surely doesn't help either.

And it doesn't look like things will be getting any brighter this year.

On Monday, the Bengals played Chris Crocker and Frostee Rucker on season-ending Injured Reserve. Crocker left the game on a cart with ten minutes left in the second quarter, collapsing after tackling Fred Jackson near the right sidelines and clutching onto his knee.

Crocker finished the season fourth on the team with 43 tackles and led the team with two quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles (tied with Leon Hall). Rucker played nine games this year before missing Sunday's game against the Bills with a knee injury. Rucker recorded 17 tackles and a quarterback sack this year.

The Bengals Injured Reserve count is up to ten players, most of whom were expected to be big contributors this year.