joelbolt
11-08-2006, 09:40 AM
Bengals add center to roster (http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061108/SPT03/611080310/1035)
By Kevin Goheen
Post staff reporter
The Bengals adjusted their roster on Tuesday, including signing center Ben Wilkerson to the 53-man roster.
Wilkerson signed a four-year deal. He was a starter on Louisiana State's 2003 national college championship team and won a share of the 2004 Rimington Award as college football's top center despite missing LSU's final four games with a torn patella tendon in his left knee. The injury not only cost Wilkerson those last games of his senior season but also a spot in the 2005 NFL draft. The Bengals signed Wilkerson as an undrafted rookie free agent.
He spent all of last season rehabbing his knee while on the injured reserve list.
The Bengals have played without center Rich Braham since he was injured in the second quarter of a 34-17 win against Cleveland on Sept. 17. Eric Ghiaciuc has started five games in place of Braham, while left guard Eric Steinbach started once at center. Ghiaciuc can play center or guard, while Wilkerson is primarily a center and has little experience playing guard.
Whether or not the moves signal another offensive line shuffle for the Bengals this Sunday when they host San Diego remains to be seen. Head coach Marvin Lewis was unavailable for comment Tuesday, the day the coaching staff puts together its weekly game plan. Lewis' policy is to not announce any starting position changes until the day of the game. The Bengals have played the last three games with the same offensive line intact, their longest stretch of this season.
Wilkerson takes the roster spot of cornerback Greg Brooks, who was placed on IR after undergoing knee surgery Monday. Players on IR are not eligible to play for their teams the rest of the season. The Bengals also placed offensive tackle Adam Kieft on IR. Kieft tore knee ligaments in the 2005 training camp and started this season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. He was the team's fifth-round draft choice last year.
Defensive end Jonathan Fanene, also on PUP since the start of the season, begins an evaluation period to test his hamstring. The Bengals have a three-week roster exemption to evaluate Fanene before they have to make a determination on his status for the rest of the season.
Defensive tackle Marcus Lewis was waived from the IR list. Lewis was an undrafted rookie free agent from Urbana University who injured his ankle during the preseason.
By Kevin Goheen
Post staff reporter
The Bengals adjusted their roster on Tuesday, including signing center Ben Wilkerson to the 53-man roster.
Wilkerson signed a four-year deal. He was a starter on Louisiana State's 2003 national college championship team and won a share of the 2004 Rimington Award as college football's top center despite missing LSU's final four games with a torn patella tendon in his left knee. The injury not only cost Wilkerson those last games of his senior season but also a spot in the 2005 NFL draft. The Bengals signed Wilkerson as an undrafted rookie free agent.
He spent all of last season rehabbing his knee while on the injured reserve list.
The Bengals have played without center Rich Braham since he was injured in the second quarter of a 34-17 win against Cleveland on Sept. 17. Eric Ghiaciuc has started five games in place of Braham, while left guard Eric Steinbach started once at center. Ghiaciuc can play center or guard, while Wilkerson is primarily a center and has little experience playing guard.
Whether or not the moves signal another offensive line shuffle for the Bengals this Sunday when they host San Diego remains to be seen. Head coach Marvin Lewis was unavailable for comment Tuesday, the day the coaching staff puts together its weekly game plan. Lewis' policy is to not announce any starting position changes until the day of the game. The Bengals have played the last three games with the same offensive line intact, their longest stretch of this season.
Wilkerson takes the roster spot of cornerback Greg Brooks, who was placed on IR after undergoing knee surgery Monday. Players on IR are not eligible to play for their teams the rest of the season. The Bengals also placed offensive tackle Adam Kieft on IR. Kieft tore knee ligaments in the 2005 training camp and started this season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. He was the team's fifth-round draft choice last year.
Defensive end Jonathan Fanene, also on PUP since the start of the season, begins an evaluation period to test his hamstring. The Bengals have a three-week roster exemption to evaluate Fanene before they have to make a determination on his status for the rest of the season.
Defensive tackle Marcus Lewis was waived from the IR list. Lewis was an undrafted rookie free agent from Urbana University who injured his ankle during the preseason.