It Feels Good To Say: Chris Perry

By Adam Kiefaber

The Bengals cut their roster down from 79 to 74 on Tuesday. A couple of those moves involved certain players being placed on certain injury lists. For example, offensive tackle Adam Kieft was placed on the season-ending injured reserve, linebacker David Pollack was placed on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) and defensive end Jimmy Verdon was placed on the all to common season-ending non-football injury-Europe list. Also, Cincinnati waived two college free agents, wide receiver Tony Kays of California-Davis and fullback Stan White of Ohio State.

However, the biggest move is the one that wasn’t made (sorry, that is such a terrible sports’ cliché)- running back Chris Perry is still on the active roster.

Many Bengals’ fans were puzzled when the team selected Auburn’s Kenny Irons in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Soon after, the local media beat into everyone’s heads that the former first-round pick Perry (left) would start the season on the PUP, which means he would miss the first six weeks of the season.

Then Irons was injured on his fourth-career preseason carry in Detroit. At the time, there was no word on Perry. All the talk was how a player (Irons) that has never seen the field in the regular season for Cincinnati was going to destroy this team’s running game.

However, all of sudden, by the sheer grace of the Bengals’ gods themselves, Chris Perry might be able to begin the season on the 53-man roster. Which will be determined this Saturday at 4 p.m. If the Bengals dress Perry and practice him this week, they won’t be able to put him on the PUP. However, the Bengals are allowed to work him out in order to make their decision.

“He’s made good progress; he’s worked hard,” Lewis told Bengals.com. “He had a great workout yesterday. He came in this morning and he wasn’t as sore. But that’s not football. He’s got to keep pushing and going. We’ll ramp him back up and keep going and keep evaluating.”

Perry didn’t play much in ‘06, but played in 14 games in ‘05 and had an impressive 51 receptions.

Other Injury News

Bengals signed kicker Aaron Elling to handle the kicking duties in Friday night’s preseason game. Graham has a bruise on his right hip. I bet if this was a regular season game, Graham would be able to take a few Advil caplets and be ready to go.

Cornerback Johnathan Joseph isn’t going to practice or play this week. His foot is in a boot again and claims that is only in there for resting purposes. That still worries me a little.

Offensive tackle Willie Anderson will finally practice for the first time this week, but probably won’t play on Friday.

Linebacker Rashad Jeanty just had surgery on his leg. He won’t play in the preseason finale and might be questionable for the opener.

Defensive back Ethan Kilmer and wide receiver Antonio Chatman are expected to be placed on the PUP list this Saturday.

Safety Dexter Jackson (right) is expected to sit out on Friday after suffering a concussion when Atlanta Falcon tight end Alge Crumpler ran him over on Monday night.

Defensive end Frostee Rucker and wide receiver Bennie Brazell are battling nagging injuries and are questionable for Friday’s game.

Also, according to a Alex Marvez of Foxsports.com Rucker will be suspended for the regular season opener against Baltimore.

According to the article the suspension stems from- “Rucker pleaded guilty in May to one count of false imprisonment and one count of vandalism stemming from a June 2006 incident with an ex-girlfriend. Rucker, who had a charge of spousal battery against him dropped as part of a plea deal, was sentenced to 36 months probation. Rucker told FOXSports.com on Wednesday that he has appealed the suspension.”