According to Geoff Hobson from Bengals.com, second-year outside linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy "ruptured his Achilles" Saturday afternoon during the team's first training camp practice. Muckelroy, experienced as an inside and outside linebacker, figured to compete for a starting spot on the strongside, which is wide open, and weakside, which is now open in wake of Keith Rivers' wrist injury. However, if anything, Muckelroy, second on the team with 12 special teams tackles, likely would have been the team's backup middle linebacker behind starting linebacker Rey Maualuga.
Rupture achilles tendon
Muckelroy's injury most likely opens the door for the return of either Brandon Johnson or Dhani Jones, both experienced outside linebackers in the careers. Jones, who spent most of his career before the Bengals as an outside linebacker, could also be used as the team's middle linebacker if Maualuga were to (god forbid) suffer an injury that required a spot start. Yet in truth, we favor Brandon Johnson for many reasons. Along with playing both outside linebacker positions, Johnson is also the team's best cover linebacker that could help a secondary that won't be as strong against the pass as in previous seasons.