Every team has a weakness, either void of talent or caused by injury. One of the team's biggest weaknesses is at safety, through injury and simply just lacking in talent. Though not malicious in thought, after you get past Roy Williams, Chris Crocker and Chinedum Ndukwe, the unknown, mixed with inexperience causes just enough concern that the team is even looking outside the roster for help.
According to Joe Reedy, the Bengals invited safety Pat Watkins in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
Watkins was released by Dallas on Tuesday after missing most of training camp with a knee injury. He has missed 11 games the past two years due to knee and neck injuries.
Since being drafted in the fifth round in 2006, Watkins has played in 49 games, starting 10. His best season was his rookie year of 2006, which was Mike Zimmer’s last year in Dallas as defensive coordinator. In nine starts, he made 36 tackles, three interceptions and had four pass deflections along with two forced fumbles. He’s also a special teams ace, ranking second with 18 tackles last year.
Not to be all broken-record like, but missed 11 games to knee and neck injuries the past two years? With this medical staff? So it's not the same thing, in that Watkins wouldn't be offered $8 million just to sign. But it does shake me back to the nightmare earlier this week.
Either way, the team knows that they're thin at safety, keeping their eyes open for anyone that becomes available. Don't be surprised if the team looks especially hard at the waiver wire after final cut down day to see who can improve the position.