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After linebacker Vontaze Burfict became the eighth person (not including those released) on season-ending Injured Reserve, the Cincinnati Bengals head into Sunday's game with two players listed as doubtful and three towing behind them as questionable.
Defensive end Margus Hunt (ankle) and wide receiver James Wright (knee) are listed as doubtful after both players missed practice this week. Without absolute confirmation, we're projecting them with a zero percent chance of playing. Place kicker Mike Nugent was given the week off after the sudden death of his father on Monday Night... Nugent is expected to play Sunday.
Where Cincinnati is questionable is in the secondary... specifically cornerback. While Leon Hall deals with being the poster child on Martavis Bryant's 94-yard touchdown reception last week, cornerbacks Adam Jones (chest) and Terence Newman (ankle), both of whom played through injuries last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, are questionable.
Jones didn't practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but returned in a limited capacity on Friday (which is a good sign). There are media reports stating that Newman was limited all week, including Friday, despite the team's website saying that Newman was out during the team's final session. Who's right and who's wrong? Who cares. We'll learn of Newman's eventual availability by 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
If both players are limited (or can't go), the Bengals will (FINALLY!) promote Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard to the number two and three slots, behind Hall. How are we supposed to develop both cornerbacks if neither are given the playing time to learn?
Tight end Jermaine Gresham has all the makings of being out this Sunday. After not showing up on the team's injury report on Wednesday, Gresham was a limited participant on Thursday with a toe. He sat on Friday and is listed as questionable. It appears that he suffered the injury on Thursday, missed the rest of that session and sat on Friday. Our best guess is that the team will test Gresham's toe Sunday morning to see how it responds.
If Gresham is unable to play, and the team will miss his blocking (PFF grades have been strong this year), Ryan Hewitt and Kevin Brock will be the only active tight ends on Sunday.