:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44214772/usa-today-6864550.0.jpg)
The Cincinnati Bengals may have to go the rest of the 2014 season without the services of one of the best right tackles in football.
Andre Smith entered Week 12 having missed the previous two games with an ankle injury, and it took just two series in Cincinnati's game at Houston before he was forced out of the game with an arm injury. You knew it was bad immediately, especially after it took the Bengals about four minutes to report that smith was unlikely to return to the contest.
Per Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo, Smith is believed to have suffered a triceps tear:
Belief is Bengals OT Andre Smith suffered a significant tear to his triceps, source says. Won't know full extent until MRI tomorrow.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 23, 2014
As Garafolo reported, Smith is scheduled for an MRI Monday that will determine the extent of the injury.
If that indeed is the injury, Smith's season is over, and Cincinnati will be left with Marshall Newhouse to start the rest of the way at right tackle.
After an injury-prone start to his NFL career, Smith has been one of the more durable tackles in football over the past three seasons. Smith was limited to just 13 games over his first two seasons, but played in 46 of a possible 48 games over the next three seasons.
Smith got off to a nice start this season, as he and left tackle Andrew Whitworth formed one of the best OT duos in football. However, Smith has a cumulative -9.4 grade over his past five games, according to Pro Football Focus.