Cincy Jungle - AJ McCarron Injury Updates and Potential ReturnWho Deyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48495/cincyjungle_fave.png2014-12-09T14:59:04-05:00http://www.cincyjungle.com/rss/stream/57519262014-12-09T14:59:04-05:002014-12-09T14:59:04-05:00McCarron activated; Vontaze Burfict placed on IR
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<p>In Vontaze Burfict's place, the Bengals activated rookie QB AJ McCarron of Alabama to the roster from the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list.</p> <p><span>The <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Bengals</a> have ended the season of linebacker <span>Vontaze Burfict</span> by placing him </span>on the Reserve/Injured list. Burfict, the Bengals’ leading tackler the last two seasons and a 2013 season Pro Bowl selection, remains in rehab from a knee injury suffered Oct. 26 vs. Baltimore.</p>
<p>It was originally reported that Burfict underwent a minor knee scope in Week 11 that was expected to sideline him for just a few weeks. However, it's been more than a few weeks, and it hasn't since appeared realistic that Burfict would return. He's been seen limping and favoring that knee while walking around over the past week or two.</p>
<p>Burfict, who missed time due to concussions earlier this season, has played and started five games, with 29 tackles, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery this season.</p>
<p><span>In his place, Cincinnati activated rookie QB AJ McCarron of Alabama to the roster from the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list. McCarron was not cleared to play or practice in preseason or the early regular season, due to a shoulder injury that predated the start of training camp. </span></p>
<p><span>He was cleared to return to practice on a roster exemption on Nov. 18. He has practiced with the team since, and yesterday marked the final day of the exemption period.</span></p>
<p><span>McCarron (6-3, 220; Alabama) was a fifth-round Bengals selection in the 2014 Draft. He was with the Bengals in preseason but did not play or practice, due to a shoulder injury that predated the start of training camp.</span></p>
<p><span>Per league rules, players on the reserve/NFI list are ineligible to practice or play through the first six weeks of the regular season. If a player isn't activated after week six, teams have a six-week window (at the end of Week 11) to determine that player's placement for the rest of the season.</span></p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/12/9/7360571/aj-mccarron-vontaze-burfict-bengalsJason Marcum2014-11-20T16:43:24-05:002014-11-20T16:43:24-05:00Bengals QB AJ McCarron excited to be practicing
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<p>Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron, who the Bengals drafted in the fifth-round of the 2014 NFL draft, is excited to be practicing with the team.</p> <p>He's back.</p>
<p>Well, not really. He wasn't really ever here to constitute a dramatic Terminator-like reference.</p>
<p>Now that he's been cleared to practice, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron has been throwing the football with shoulder pads during practice. Not even when he was dealing with a shoulder ailment during training camp, the preseason, had McCarron actually practiced with the team.</p>
<p>Now he is. And he's <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641763&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincinnati.com%2Fstory%2Fblogs%2F2014%2F11%2F19%2Fbengals-notes-dalton-heading-home-mccarron-works-more%2F19295355%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincyjungle.com%2F2014%2F11%2F20%2F7256317%2Fbengals-qb-aj-mccarron-excited-to-be-practicing" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">excited about it</a>.</p>
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<p>"I've been playing football since the age of three," said McCarron via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I've never had to sit out for a long period of time so that definitely was hard, but I was worrying about the things I could control each day working with Nick (Cosgray, the team's director of rehabilitation) trying to get better and sharpening my skills. When I get my shot make it happen."</p>
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<p>McCarron was cleared to practice on Nov. 18. Per league rules, the team has 21 days before they're forced into a decision... promote him to the 53-man roster, waive him or place him on season-ending IR. By our count, the date is Dec. 8, 2014 -- a day after the Bengals return to Cincinnati for a home game against the Steelers.</p>
<p>During his first practice on Wednesday, Bengals beat writer Richard Skinner noted that he overthrew receivers "<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641763&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincinnati.com%2Fstory%2Fblogs%2F2014%2F11%2F19%2Fbengals-notes-dalton-heading-home-mccarron-works-more%2F19295355%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincyjungle.com%2F2014%2F11%2F20%2F7256317%2Fbengals-qb-aj-mccarron-excited-to-be-practicing" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">badly three times</a>."</p>
<p>It's believed that the team will place him on a season-ending injury list prior to the 21-day window.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/11/20/7256317/bengals-qb-aj-mccarron-excited-to-be-practicingJosh Kirkendall2014-11-18T16:01:58-05:002014-11-18T16:01:58-05:00McCarron cleared; Terrell Manning added to P.S.
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<p>The Bengals signed Terrell Manning to the practice squad while also clearing A.J. McCarron to practice. </p> <p><span>The <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Bengals</a> have made several roster moves following the conclusion of Week 11, the most notable of which was the team clearing </span><span>rookie QB AJ McCarron to begin practicing with the team. </span></p>
<p><span>McCarron (6-3, 220; Alabama) was a fifth-round Bengals selection in the 2014 Draft. He was with the Bengals in preseason but did not play or practice, due to a shoulder injury that predated the start of training camp. He is not on the 53-player roster, but remains on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list, where he was placed on Aug. 30.</span></p>
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<p><span>Today marks the beginning of a 21-day window, during which he may practice without being counted against the roster limit. He could be activated to the roster at any time during the window, per club decision.</span></p>
<p><span>The Bengals also signed LB Terrell Manning (first name pronounced "ter-ELL") to the practice squad. Manning (6-2, 237; North Carolina State) is a second-year NFL player with nine games of league experience. He was with the N.Y. <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> in the 2014 preseason and went to Miami and later Chicago's practice squads before being signed to the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bears</a> roster on Sept. 22. </span></p>
<p><span>He played for the Bears in games 2-3 and 5 (no statistics). He was waived by Chicago on Oct. 14, signed to the Bears practice squad on Oct. 15 and released from the practice squad on Nov. 11. He was a fifth-round draft choice of Green Bay in 2012 and played in five games. He played in one game with San Diego in 2013.</span></p>
<p><span>To make room for Manning, Cincinnati released rookie LB Justin Jackson of Wake Forest from the practice squad. Jackson had been on the practice squad since Nov. 3.</span></p>
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https://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/11/18/7243235/a-j-mccarron-practice-bengals-terrell-manning-practice-squadJason Marcum2014-11-15T09:30:02-05:002014-11-15T09:30:02-05:00Decision on Bengals QB A.J. McCarron looms
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<p>There are approaching deadlines for quarterback A.J. McCarron, who has been sidelined this season with a shoulder injury. It's expected that he'll be placed on season-ending IR (or PUP) but nothing has been announced.</p> <p>Cincinnati Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron, selected in the fifth-round of the 2014 NFL draft, was placed on the team's reserve/Non-Football Injury list when Cincinnati was reducing their roster to the 53-man maximum earlier this year. McCarron had been dealing with a shoulder injury since before he was drafted; thus the inclusion on the NFI list.</p>
<p>Per league rules, players on the reserve/NFI list are ineligible to practice or play through the first six weeks of the regular season. If a player isn't activated after week six, teams have a six-week window (at the end of Week 11) to determine that player's placement for the rest of the season.</p>
<p>Cincinnati can force McCarron to stay on NFI, but that will end his season (ala, similar to IR)... or they can place him on IR. Cincinnati could waive McCarron, facing the risk that another team would submit a claim, and (if he clears) put him on the practice squad. Or they could place him on the 53-man roster (but that seems the least likely). However, they can delay these deadlines if McCarron starts practicing this week. Then the Bengals would have an additional three weeks to decide.</p>
<p>One Bengals.com beat writer believes that <a href="http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Hobsons-Choice-brass-tacks-/00d859dd-42c6-4576-9666-1c0e933fb56f">Cincinnati will hit every deadline</a> before shutting him down for the season.</p>
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<p>McCarron can come off PUP a week from Tuesday and start practicing. Then I’m going to guess after he practices for three weeks they'll put him on season-ending injured reserve and keep rehabbing him. If they activate him after three weeks, that takes a spot away from a team that needs all the non-QB roster space it can get for the stretch run.</p>
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<p>Most believe that the team is working to develop McCarron as Andy Dalton's eventual backup quarterback.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/11/15/7225019/decision-on-bengals-qb-a-j-mccarron-loomsJosh Kirkendall2014-10-05T20:15:17-04:002014-10-05T20:15:17-04:00Bengals rookie QB looking good in pregame warmups
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback A.J. McCarron took a few tosses during pregame warmups. It probably doesn't mean much for this year though. Cincinnati will have to start thinking about the remainder of his season soon.</p> <p>Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback A.J. McCarron, taken in the fifth round during the 2014 NFL draft, threw a handful of passes during pregame warmups on Sunday. Per Coley Harvey with ESPN, McCarron launched one football 45 yards into the end zone.</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bengals?src=hash">#Bengals</a> out for early warmups. Rookie QB AJ McCarron (still on NFI list) has been throwing. Just threw 45yds across field into end zone</p>
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColeyHarvey/status/518884666821320704">October 5, 2014</a>
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<p>Arm looks good. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bengals?src=hash">#Bengals</a> contend it isn't, though, so we'll see. He's on non-football injury list until after next week. Then, decision time</p>
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColeyHarvey/status/518885006174089216">October 5, 2014</a>
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<p>The decision is: Put McCarron on season-ending PUP, the 53-man roster, or waive him. We don't see the second option at this stage. Cincinnati could risk the practice squad if they want to put him through waivers -- the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills say, "go ahead, we'd love to develop a future quarterback at virtually no cost."</p>
<p>However, Cincinnati doesn't have to make a decision any time soon.</p>
<p>Per the CBA, and assuming that NFI (Non-football Injury) is identical to PUP (save for when the injury occurred and definitions on paragraph five salaries), if McCarron isn't active after week six, the Bengals have a six-week window to make a decision on the above-mentioned choices. If McCarron starts practicing after week six, the team has a three-week window after <i>that </i>moment to add him to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending IR.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/10/5/6915749/bengals-rookie-qb-a-j-mccarron-looking-good-in-pregame-warmupsJosh Kirkendall2014-09-25T09:31:11-04:002014-09-25T09:31:11-04:00AJ McCarron ready to return to Bengals practice
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<p>AJ McCarron has looked good throwing on the side in practice, and he's anxious to return to the field.</p> <p>The Bengals are perfectly fine at quarterback, but in case they need another one, AJ McCarron is waiting in the wings. The fifth-round pick out of Alabama is still sitting on the PUP list as he recovers from a shoulder injury.</p>
<p>As <a href="http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Notes-Marv-Jones-Rex-return-McCarron-hopeful/e5d31d8c-759b-4b72-8395-ecfd7dcf7a53" target="_blank">Butch Hobson pointed out</a>, McCarron has looked good throwing on the side in practice, and he's anxious to return to the field.</p>
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<span>McCarron, the rookie quarterback who won two national titles at Alabama, says he’s ready to join the active roster after spending all season rehabbing his throwing shoulder. </span><span>He’s eligible to return in a few weeks, but he’s looked crisp on the side for the last month.</span>
<p>"I feel great. It's up to them," McCarron said. "They've talked to me about it, from Coach (Marvin) Lewis to Mr. (Mike) Brown and they want me to make sure I take it slow and take all the time I need. But I'm anxious to get out there and practice."</p>
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<p>He'll<span> be eligible to return to action in Week 7, that is, if Cincinnati needs him on the 53-man roster. </span>After six weeks, measured from the start of the season, the Bengals will have a six-week window to evaluate McCarron. During that time, Cincinnati would have the option to place him on the reserve/injured list, release him or allow him to begin practicing with the team.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/9/25/6843451/aj-mccarron-bengals-practiceJason Marcum2014-09-01T10:25:18-04:002014-09-01T10:25:18-04:00A.J. McCarron: Shoulder feels 'great'
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<p>Before any extension is filed (honestly, that's the first I've heard of that), the Bengals will have a three-week window after week six to decide on McCarron's rookie season. They can place him on the active 53-man roster, waive him or leave him on the season-ending PUP list. </p> <p>Because rookie quarterback A.J. McCarron never officially practiced during training camp or the preseason, the Cincinnati Bengals allowed to place him on the team's Non-Football Injury list -- similar to PUP, in that McCarron won't join the 53-man roster until week seven at the earliest, or not at all this year. It keeps him off waivers for now and gives the team a roster exemption.</p>
<p>However, he feels great. While attending Alabama's season opener on Saturday against West Virginia, McCarron told TideSports.com that his shoulder feels "great".</p>
<p>"I feel good. I've got to be on there for six weeks, then (the Bengals) can file for an extension all the way until Week 15 so they're going to just play the numbers game that way," <a href="https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1675974">McCarron said via TideSports.com</a>. "But (the shoulder) feels great though."</p>
<p>Not that the Bengals are being dishonest (more like using a resource at their disposal), but we suspect Cincinnati's intention with McCarron is two-fold... 1) approach his rehabilitation conservatively (there's two quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart, so there's no rush) and 2) prevent any preseason tape distribution (aka, playing well and forcing Cincinnati to use a roster spot on a third-string quarterback).</p>
<p>Before any extension is filed (honestly, that's the first I've heard of that), the Bengals will have a three-week window after week six to decide McCarron's rookie season. They can place him on the active 53-man roster, waive him or leave him on the season-ending PUP list.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/9/1/6092959/a-j-mccarron-shoulder-feels-greatJosh Kirkendall2014-08-09T13:44:48-04:002014-08-09T13:44:48-04:00Bengals add Tyler Wilson; Campbell & McCarron out
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<p>In college, Wilson played four years at Arkansas, seeing action in 37 career games with 24 starts and setting the Arkansas career record with 7,765 passing yards</p> <p>It didn't take long for the Cincinnati Bengals to find another quarterback.</p>
<p>After backup Jason Campbell was injured after playing poorly in Thursday's preseason opener vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, they immediately began scanning the wire for potential pickups at that position. It was announced Saturday that <a href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/8/9/5986085/jason-campbell-has-bruised-elbow-bengals-adding-a-quarterback">Campbell has a "deep bruise" in his throwing elbow</a>.</p>
<p>They've now signed former Arkansas Razorbacks QB Tyler Wilson.</p>
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<p><span>Wilson (6-2, 215) entered the NFL in 2013 as a fourth-round draft choice of Oakland. In 2013 preseason for the Raiders, he passed 11-for-18 for 93 yards with no TDs or INTs. He spent Weeks 1-10 of the regular season on the Oakland practice squad. He was on the Raiders roster but did not play in Weeks 11-12, and he returned to the practice squad for Weeks 13-15. He was signed to the Tennessee roster from the Oakland practice squad on Dec. 17 and was inactive for the Titans in Weeks 16-17. </span></p>
<p>He opened 2014 with Tennessee and was waived on Aug. 6. He was battling for a roster spot with rookie Zach Mettenberger.</p>
<p>It's unlikely Wilson will make the 53-man roster, but he is still eligible to be signed to the practice squad. Then again, so are Matt Scott and AJ McCarron, of whom Wilson will be battling with for a spot on. He will wear the now-infamous No.9 with the Bengals.</p>
<p><span>In college, Wilson played four years at Arkansas, seeing action in 37 career games with 24 starts and setting the Arkansas career record with 7,765 passing yards. He </span><span>completed 593 career passes, also a program record and attempted 948 passes, the second-most in school history. </span>He threw 52 career touchdowns passes, becoming one of just four players in program history to top 50 career TD throws.</p>
<p><span>As a senior, Wilson started 11 games and completed 249/401 pass attempts for 3,387 yards and 21 touchdowns. He ranked second in the SEC with an average of 308.6 yards per game in total offense and threw for over 300 yards in five contests.</span></p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2014/8/9/5986153/tyler-wilson-signed-by-cincinnati-bengalsJason Marcum