The Bengals preseason opener quickly turned into a disaster. Cincinnati saw three starters injured in the first five minutes and another hurt in the second quarter to leave the team concerned about its health for the regular-season opener and beyond.
What appeared to be the worst of the four came first when free-agent guard Travelle Wharton went down on his third play as a Bengal. Trainers worked on his right leg and quickly called for the cart. The official announcement from the Bengals was a right leg injury. He did not return.
Following the game, Lewis said he had not seen results of his tests and would determine his status at that point.
Wharton was signed to a three-year, $10 million contract in the offseason to beef up a position where Cincinnati struggled to open holes in the running game. The 320-pound Wharton missed all but one game in the 2006 season with an ACL/MCL tear and the final seven games of the 2010 season with a toe injury but has stayed healthy the rest of his career.
Second-year guard Clint Boling stepped in for Wharton but brings a significant drop in production. Boling started three games last season in place of then-starter Bobbie Williams, who was serving a four-game suspension. Boling was lifted before the fourth game for performance and only saw the field once more all year.
But the biggest name to suffer injury was DE Carlos Dunlap. The Bengals top pass rusher was helped off the field by trainers during the second series right knee sprain. He spent the rest of the game in the locker room and did not return.
Dunlap was predictably down in the locker room after the game with a large brace on his right knee and using crutches. He passed on interviews, but Lewis said Dunlap would “be OK in a little bit of time.” The timeline is still unknown.
Dunlap has struggled with injuries throughout his brief career. He's been one of the most prolific pass rushers in the league when healthy but that has proven a rarity. Dunlap spent the offseason developing a program specifically designed toward avoiding injury this year. Not a great start.
LB Rey Maualuga opened his contract year with a sack but soon followed by falling to the ground with a right knee injury. He eventually walked off on his own power and although he didn't return, appeared to be in good health and spirits walking the sideline soon after.
Maualuga pronounced himself as fine after the game.
“My mind blacked out for a little bit because everyone thinks the worse and feel as if the coaches or doctors are going to show you something better,” he said. “Super relieved. The moment I walked off the field and was able to squat and kick I knew everything was going to be all right.”
Safety Taylor Mays delivered a hit on Jets WR Stephen Hill and stunned himself with the contact. He walked dazed to the sideline and didn't return with a head injury. Mays heads and already inexperienced group at safety attempting to replace veteran Chris Crocker, cut in the offseason.
Lewis sounded optimistic Mays could return in a short time.
Jeromy Miles, predominantly a special teamer during his career, and Robert Sands, who struggled mightily in practice, are the other options listed as safety. CB Nate Clements spent some time during recent practices jumping in at safety in nickel packages. An injury to Mays could expedite the process of shifting Clements to more snaps at the position.
Wharton, who was signed to a three-year, $10-million contract in the offseason to beef up a position where Cincinnati struggled to open holes in the running game. The 320-pound Wharton missed all but one game in the 2006 season with an ACL/MCL tear and the final seven games of the 2010 season with a toe injury but has stayed healthy the rest of his career.
Second-year guard Clint Boling stepped in for Wharton, but he brings a significant drop in production. Boling started three games last season in place of then-starter Bobbie Williams, who was serving a four-game suspension. Boling was lifted before the fourth game for performance and only saw the field once more all year.
Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates on Twitter at @CBSSportsNFLCIN.
