Bengals workout rookie running back D.J. Harper

The Cincinnati Bengals worked out free agent running back D.J. Harper this week, according to Aaron Wilson for the Baltimore Sun and National Football Post. Harper, from Boise State, signed as a college free agent with the San Francisco 49ers on May 7, 2013, but released three months later on August 26, 2013. He carried the football three times, lost three yards and a fumble on those attempts.

Harper was more impressive as a blocker with the niners.

"If you can block like that, there will be a place for you in the NFL," Rathman said via Comcast SportsNet, singling out Harper's performance in one-on-one pass-protection drills.

Now if you're thinking, why in the world are the Bengals working out a running back, they have even activated Rex Burkhead yet. This really has nothing to do with the 53-man roster. In fact, the Bengals routinely workout players every week -- not all of them are made public and most of them are leave unsigned. This is consistent among all teams in the NFL.

However, the Bengals lost Daniel Herron on Tuesday when the Indianapolis Colts signed him off Cincinnati's practice squad, which now has an available spot.