Dre Kirkpatrick's return shoring up Bengals' cornerback depth

Rookie first-round draft choice Dre Kirkpatrick is expected to see his first action of the preseason Thursday night when the Cincinnati Bengals play their final tune-up at Indianapolis. Kirkpatrick has been practicing for the past week after suffering a knee injury prior to the start of training camp.

Just how much Kirkpatrick plays Thursday remains to be seen.

“It’s very important to see where I stand. To see, ‘Am I really ready?’ To see how the work ethic I put in is progressing and pretty much just see how my leg stands up,” Kirkpatrick said Sunday. “I’m going to be ready to play for however long I’m out there.”

Coach Marvin Lewis confirmed Kirkpatrick is expected to play barring any physical setbacks in practice this week. The Bengals have eight cornerbacks on their roster. Kirkpatrick and free agent signee Jason Allen have yet to play in any of the three previous preseason games, while Adam Jones has not played in the last two games due to a calf injury.

Leon Hall has started all three games at right corner, and Nate Clements has been the starter on the left side twice. Clements started at strong safety against Green Bay last Thursday while Terence Newman started opposite of Hall.

“He just needs to go out and play. He needs to have live snaps,” Lewis said of Kirkpatrick. “He just gets an opportunity to get out there and go out there and compete and get winded and go back to the huddle and hear the next call and know the down and distance, the situation, and react and play to what the defense calls.”

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer isn’t predicting anything when it comes to Kirkpatrick. He hasn’t seen him in practice enough to make any prognostications.

“To me, mentally, he’s all right from what I can tell, but I don’t know where he’s at physically,” said Zimmer. “He’s got some technique issues. But lots of them do. The other guys have had 35 days of technique now.”

Injury report: The Bengals had 16 players, including Kirkpatrick, not play against Green Bay last Thursday because of injury. Besides Kirkpatrick, Lewis said a few others are getting closer to being ready for the Sept. 10 opener at Baltimore even if they don’t play against the Colts.

Jones and running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis were suited up for practice Sunday but were only working with trainers during the time media is allowed to watch practice. Linebacker Rey Maualuga (knee), tight end Jermaine Gresham (knee) and defensive ends Robert Geathers (knee) and Carlos Dunlap (knee) were not practicing with the team.

Roster move needed: The Bengals have to make one more roster transaction by 4 p.m. Monday to reach the NFL’s 75-player limit.

Youth served: Andy Dalton of the Bengals and Andrew Luck of the Colts aren’t expected to play much on Thursday but the two quarterbacks are among the 10 signal callers drafted in the last two years who will be starting for their teams this season.

“One thing is timing. I’d like to think we’re a talented group,” Dalton said. “Put those together and come into a good opportunity. I’m sure three years ago you all weren’t thinking you were going to have a starting quarterback as a rookie last year. You never know what is going to happen.”

Kevin Goheen contributed to this report. Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates on Twitter at @CBSSportsNFLCIN.