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The Cincinnati Bengals have placed cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick on injured reserve, ending his 2019 season.
In addition, the Bengals have signed linebacker Hardy Nickerson and wide receiver Damion Willis off the practice squad. The Bengals didn’t need to make room for another roster spot since they had one vacant after Preston Brown was waived earlier this week.
Head coach Zac Taylor made the announcement Friday, adding that wide receiver AJ Green is out this week vs. the Raiders.
Hart going at RT; AJ Green out, Zac says; Dre out for year goes to IR
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) November 15, 2019
Corresponding Moves: Willis and Nickerson off PS to roster
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) November 15, 2019
Kirkpatrick, a former first-round pick from Alabama in his seventh NFL season, is in his fifth-straight season in a full-time starting role. The loss of him has been a setback for a defense that’s already been woefully-bad this season, especially in pass coverage.
Willis, an undrafted receiver out of Troy, actually opened the season as a starting receiver, only to fall out of his role and eventually be waived before being signed to the practice squad.
Nickerson, a third-year player, was a regular contributor over the last two years, but he was waived during final cuts this year and has been on the practice squad since then.