In an offseason that seems to have nothing but bad news piling up for the Bengals, more has come their way today. Defensive Tackle Pat Sims was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List today, along with Cornerback Adam Jones. It's currently unclear as to what's ailing Sims, but he's been placed there by the Bengals staff for the time-being.
Though not a starter, Sims plays a key role on defense. If he were to miss any extended time, his presence would definitely be missed. He often seems to have a knack to get penetration against opposing offenses, both against the pass and the run, though his primary role is as a run-stopper.
Some Bengal fans have been clamoring for Sims to slide into a starting spot in 2011. With the possible departure of Tank Johnson forthcoming, Sims probably would have had a good shot at becoming a starter without this setback. Needless to say, with an already light roster (thanks to an inactive free agency period from the Bengals front office), the Bengals can't afford for Sims to be on this list for an extended period of time.
The good news? Like Jones, Sims can come back to the roster when he's medically cleared to play and won't have to miss the standard 6 weeks as a player later designated to PUP List would have to. This could be another example of the Bengals staff taking precautions with Sims to make sure he comes back on the field when he's fully healthy. They are most likely using this designation to temporarily free up a roster spot towards the 90-man training camp roster limit.
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