Bengals set in motion the return of an opening day starter who could be needed to play as early as this week
The veteran has been cleared to start practicing again for the Bengals.
The Cincinnati Bengals have designated guard Lucas Patrick to return off the Reserve/Injured list Wednesday and have cleared him to practice.
Patrick can start practicing as early as today, and Cincinnati has 21 days to activate him to the 53-man roster.
Patrick was the Bengals’ opening day starting right guard and suffered a calf injury during the team’s Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns. He had also dealt with a calf injury during the early portion of training camp. He has missed the minimum four games on I.R., and can return as early as this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
Will Lucas Patrick start for the Bengals this week?
Patrick was initially replaced by Dalton Risner when he was injured, and he’ll now come back to practice to find a newer face has taken his spot at RG. Rookie Jalen Rivers took over the position for Risner officially in Week 4 after Risner underwhelmed as the starter for two weeks.
Rivers could very well be kept at his spot with the coaching staff wanting the fifth-round pick to develop and gain reps, but Patrick could still see the field this week at left guard.
Dylan Fairchild, Cincinnati’s other rookie starting offensive lineman, is dealing with a knee injury he suffered last week against the Detroit Lions. Fairchild is uncertain if he’ll be able to practice this week, and if he misses Sunday’s game, that’s an opportunity for Patrick to play at LG.
With Fairchild hurt, Risner was the logical next-man-up at the position as he did fill in for the rookie for one snap against Detroit. If Patrick is ready to play, he may get the nod over Risner, who’s already been benched this year.
There’s no rush for Patrick to return this week. Risner can start for Fairchild if needed, and the Bengals would have two more weeks to activate Patrick. The option to activate him now will be exercised if he’s deemed both ready and needed to play.
Cincinnati Bengals News
Joe Burrow’s message to Joe Flacco from Week 1 takes on a whole new meaning nobody could’ve expected
Burrow was right, just not in the way anyone could’ve expected.
