Optimism with Bengals RB Rex Burkhead

Cincinnati Bengals running back Rex Burkhead has a "sore knee", head coach Marvin Lewis told reporters on Wednesday. Hum. Let's file this under "Things we don't believe Lewis says" and go with the widely believed theory that Burkhead suffered an MCL sprain against the New York Jets Saturday evening.

Regardless, there is optimism.

Good sign for #Bengals RB Rex Burkhead. Still in compression cast, but no crutches today. Had those Monday

— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) August 20, 2014

If the team wants to keep Burkhead, they'll have to use a spot for him, place him on IR (the one where he can come back after eight weeks) or season-ending IR... no, he's not eligible for PUP. And if the team places him on IR with a designation to return then they won't be able to use that on another player.