Among a couple of little nuggets (or grenades, depending on how you look at it) that Bengals head coach gave the media on Friday was some news on defensive tackle Pat Sims. The big lineman was relegated to the PUP List through the first seven games and was just allowed to practice for the first time all season this past week. He had been recovering from a severe ankle injury that he suffered late in the 2011 season.
Along with the unfortunate news surrounding linebacker/defensive end Dontay Moch, the Bengals will be without Sims' services this weekend against the Denver Broncos. According to head coach Marvin Lewis, Sims has looked good in practice this week, but it's likely that they want to get him into football shape and not rush him back to quickly. We could be seeing him in the next couple of weeks, as the Bengals were granted a three-week roster exemption for Sims.
The sooner they get him back, the better. The once-stout Bengals rush defense has not looked the same without the big man clogging the middle. Third-string Steelers running back torched the Bengals defense for over 100 yards two weeks ago.