Jens1893
12-23-2006, 04:05 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2707244
The Cincinnati Bengals, who are locked in a fierce battle for an AFC wild card spot, will have standout left offensive tackle Levi Jones back for Sunday's key conference matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Levi Jones
Jones
Coach Marvin Lewis stopped short of saying that Jones will start against the Broncos, but before departing for Denver on Friday night, he acknowledged the five-year veteran will play. Jones was able to participate in at least some segments of practice the past two weeks. He dressed for, but did not play in the team's loss at Indianapolis on Monday night.
Jones underwent arthroscopic surgery in mid-October to repair cartilage damage to his left knee. He has not played a snap since an Oct. 15 loss at Tampa Bay.
The former Arizona State star, who was chosen by the Bengals in the first round of the 2002 draft, missed only one game in his first four seasons. But a sore knee forced him out of the Sept. 17 game at Cleveland, and then the knee surgery has kept him out of the past nine games.
Cincinnati is 6-4 in the 10 games in which Jones did not play.
Left guard Eric Steinbach moved to tackle to replace Jones in the Sept. 17 game, but rookie Andrew Whitworth has started the last nine games at left tackle. A second-round choice from LSU, Whitworth has played well for the most part, but then suffered a meltdown in the loss at Indianapolis, surrendering three sacks to Colts right end Dwight Freeney.
Jones, 27, is regarded as one of the league's top pass protectors. Getting him back in the lineup for the final two games of the season would be a boost to a Cincinnati offense that has struggled though stretches of inconsistency in 2006, in part because of having to shuffle the offensive line to compensate for injuries. The Bengals signed Jones to a six-year, $40 million contract extension during training camp this summer.
Pro Bowl right offensive tackle Willie Anderson, who did not practice during the week because of a foot injury, is expected to start on Sunday.
The loss at Indianapolis snapped a four-game losing streak for the Bengals and dropped them to 8-6, in a tie with three other franchises that are battling for the AFC's two wild-card berths. Cincinnati can secure one of those berths under two scenarios.
A Bengals victory on Sunday coupled with a Buffalo loss or tie and a New York Jets loss will secure a playoff spot. So will a Bengals win, coupled with a Buffalo loss or tie and a Jacksonville loss.
The Cincinnati Bengals, who are locked in a fierce battle for an AFC wild card spot, will have standout left offensive tackle Levi Jones back for Sunday's key conference matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Levi Jones
Jones
Coach Marvin Lewis stopped short of saying that Jones will start against the Broncos, but before departing for Denver on Friday night, he acknowledged the five-year veteran will play. Jones was able to participate in at least some segments of practice the past two weeks. He dressed for, but did not play in the team's loss at Indianapolis on Monday night.
Jones underwent arthroscopic surgery in mid-October to repair cartilage damage to his left knee. He has not played a snap since an Oct. 15 loss at Tampa Bay.
The former Arizona State star, who was chosen by the Bengals in the first round of the 2002 draft, missed only one game in his first four seasons. But a sore knee forced him out of the Sept. 17 game at Cleveland, and then the knee surgery has kept him out of the past nine games.
Cincinnati is 6-4 in the 10 games in which Jones did not play.
Left guard Eric Steinbach moved to tackle to replace Jones in the Sept. 17 game, but rookie Andrew Whitworth has started the last nine games at left tackle. A second-round choice from LSU, Whitworth has played well for the most part, but then suffered a meltdown in the loss at Indianapolis, surrendering three sacks to Colts right end Dwight Freeney.
Jones, 27, is regarded as one of the league's top pass protectors. Getting him back in the lineup for the final two games of the season would be a boost to a Cincinnati offense that has struggled though stretches of inconsistency in 2006, in part because of having to shuffle the offensive line to compensate for injuries. The Bengals signed Jones to a six-year, $40 million contract extension during training camp this summer.
Pro Bowl right offensive tackle Willie Anderson, who did not practice during the week because of a foot injury, is expected to start on Sunday.
The loss at Indianapolis snapped a four-game losing streak for the Bengals and dropped them to 8-6, in a tie with three other franchises that are battling for the AFC's two wild-card berths. Cincinnati can secure one of those berths under two scenarios.
A Bengals victory on Sunday coupled with a Buffalo loss or tie and a New York Jets loss will secure a playoff spot. So will a Bengals win, coupled with a Buffalo loss or tie and a Jacksonville loss.