According to Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, Bengals cornerback Adam Jones won't be able to practice this week. Jones, at one point a prime candidate for the starting cornerback spot opposite Leon Hall after Johnathan Joseph's departure for the Houston Texans, hasn't practice at all during training camp, placed on the Active/PUP list when practices began. Jones suffered a spinal injury during a two-point conversion late in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons.
While on the Active/PUP Jones could return to work at any time he's ready and medical cleared. However, if he's placed on Reserve/PUP at the start of the season, he'll be ineligible to play for the first weeks of the season; although he wouldn't count towards the 53-man roster. If they don't place Jones on Reserve/PUP, they'll have to keep a roster spot open on the 53-man roster, even though he'd be unable to perform.
Even if Jones returned, he'd have to beat out Morgan Trent, who is having a good preseason, for a spot at nickel.