Bengals Place CB Kirkpatrick On IR And Claim WR Dane Sanzenbacher Off Waivers

The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Tuesday (Christmas of all days) that they've placed Dre Kirkpatrick on Injured Reserve, citing a knee injury that he suffered well before training camp. Apparently the knee hasn't really worked itself out, despite actually suffering a concussion earlier this month. Kirkpatrick, the team's first first-round selection during the 2012 NFL draft, played five games this season, generating two tackles on defense and another two on special teams.

The vacancy didn't last, as the team also announced on Tuesday that the Bengals acquired wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher off waivers from the Chicago Bears. A second-year player out of Ohio State, Sanzenbacher joined Chicago as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2011 training camp, playing 16 games that year and generating 27 receptions for 276 yards receiving and three touchdowns. He played five games (deactivated during the ten others), posting only one reception this year.

Kirkpatrick's placement on IR was somewhat expected, having a season washed away with injury and a lingering concussion issue (I mean knee) that if the team required a roster spot, he'd likely be shut down.

Sanzenbacher puts the roster back at six wide receivers after opening the season with seven, but having placed Mohamed Sanu on IR and Armon Binns through waivers (they needed the roster spot), who was claimed by the Miami Dolphins.