Perry seeing a specialist

[JPW]

Leon is/was a Great RB but he is gone...

Wish him good luck and move on already...

Perry should be 100% by next season...

We either re-sign or tag Rudi...

We will be Fine at RB...

[oldschooler]

Thursday, December 23, 2004

Unusual season comes to end for Perry

By Mark Curnutte and Kevin Kelly

Enquirer staff writers

Chris Perry will not play the rest of the season.

The rookie running back has a sports hernia, a specialist diagnosed earlier this week.

Coach Marvin Lewis told reporters about Perry after returning late Wednesday from practice at the Wall2Wall indoor soccer complex in Mason.

Perry, the team's first-round draft pick and 26th overall, played in just two games and was active in just five. He had two rushing attempts for 1 yard and three receptions for 33 yards.

Lewis said Perry would be fine for next season but did not indicate whether Perry would be placed on the injured reserve list.

"It's something that takes awhile to come back from, and the only way you can get it right is with rest. It just takes time," Lewis said.

With starting tailback Rudi Johnson poised to enter the market as an unrestricted free agent, Lewis said Monday he is confident Perry could be the featured back.

PALMER UPDATE: Quarterback Carson Palmer (knee) remained questionable Wednesday for the game Sunday against the Giants but did not take the ride to Mason to practice.

Palmer was walking better and said he had better range of motion in the knee, though not yet good enough to practice. He said he did run Wednesday - most likely on a treadmill. He is scheduled to see a doctor again Friday.

Jon Kitna will make his second start if Palmer is unavailable.

Defensive end Duane Clemons (knee) is questionable. He did not practice Wednesday.

INDOORS: The Bengals have adjusted their practice schedule for today and will return to Mason to practice at Wall2Wall. The team rode in charter buses, a drive that was slowed because of traffic and snow.

"We're hopeful in the future to have the ability to walk across the street and go to practice," Lewis said. "I'll leave it at that."

PRACTICE SQUAD MOVE: The Bengals added rookie fullback Doug Easlick to their practice squad.

Released by the Dolphins Oct. 12, Easlick played in Miami's first three games this season, including a start against the Bengals, and caught one pass for 4 yards.

The Dolphins signed Easlick as an undrafted free agent from Virginia Tech in April, waived him Oct. 2 and signed him to their practice squad three days later.

MISSING OUT: Cornerback Deltha O'Neal, who has missed the past two games and three of the past five with a nagging left ankle injury, practiced Wednesday. He remains questionable for theGiants.

"I've missed a couple of crucial games that I really wish I didn't miss, like the New England game, the Pittsburgh game and (Sunday)," said O'Neal, whose three interceptions are tied for second on the team. "But it's probably best that I didn't in case I hurt it more and was out for the season."

Rookie Keiwan Ratliff has started in O'Neal's place.

"Some rookies that come in, that are on top and have all the gifts in the world to do well, get thrown into the fire and fold," O'Neal said.

"Keiwan has shown none of that."

STAT PACK: Of the Giants' eight receiving touchdowns this season, six belong to tight end Jeremy Shockey. Bengals tight ends Reggie Kelly, Matt Schobel and Tony Stewart have five combined touchdowns this season. ... The Giants are 0-6 when an opposing running back gains 100 yards.