Bengals Third Round Draft Pick Dontay Moch Finally Returns To Practice

Bengals linebacker Dontay Moch is practicing with the team for the first time since breaking his foot during the preseason opener in Detroit two months ago. The injury was believed to keep him from playing between 4-8 weeks, with a general belief he could be back sooner rather than later. He wasn't eligible for the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list because he practiced earlier during training camp and the team didn't want to place him on Injured Reserve due to the relatively short rehabilitation needed.

Moch, a former defensive end from Nevada, was selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft after posting a school record 22 tackles for loss (breaking his own record) during his final season. He also recorded 8.5 quarterback sacks on a 13-1 team that scored a win over then-No. 3 Boise State. In 2009 Moch earned WAC Defensive Player of the Year with 61 tackles, 6.5 quarterback sacks, 20 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

The Bengals decided to move Moch as an outside linebacker, originally believed to be the weakside backer during nickel (what Thomas Howard plays now). Can you imagine the pass rush the Bengals could generate with their third round draft pick finally in the mix?