Brooks gets another start
By GEOFF HOBSON
October 22, 2006
Posted: 11:40 a.m.
Middle linebacker Brian Simmons and strong safety Dexter Jackson were both active for Sunday’s game against the Panthers and were expected to play but weren’t in the starting lineup.
Rookie Ahmad Brooks drew his second straight start in place of Simmons and Kevin Kaesviharn lined up at strong safety for the fourth straight game.
While Simmons sat last Sunday in Tampa with a neck injury, Brooks had 14 tackles in his first NFL start. Also for the third straight game, Landon Johnson started at strong-side linebacker and Caleb Miller on the weak side with Rashad Jeanty (foot) inactive again.
With wide receivers Kelley Washington (hamstring) inactive and Tab Perry on injured reserve, rookie wide receiver Glenn Holt was active after signing off the practice squad, and rookie receiver Reggie McNeal was again listed as the third quarterback.
Running back Chris Perry, just off the physically unable to perform list (PUP), was active for his first game this season and could see plenty of time as a wide receiver.
Peter Schaffer, the agent for wide receiver Tab Perry, applauded the Bengals for taking the cautious route and putting his client on season-ending injured reserve with a partially dislocated hip.
“We think there was a pretty good chance he could have come back late in the year,” Schaffer said. “But the Bengals needed the roster spot and they also felt with that type of injury rest is the best thing for it.”
Schaffer and Perry both believe he’ll be back for the first minicamp in the spring after an offseason of rehab. Perry called it “a subluxation,” where the bone slides out and then back in.
“When that happens,” Perry said, “it messes up things inside your capsule (which contains ligaments). You’ve got things that are loose, things that are bruised. You have to wait for all that to clear out.”
Former Raiders running back Bo Jackson’s career ended with a similar dislocation, but Perry and Schaffer said the Bengals believe it's because he came back too soon and didn’t take the proper time.
“We think that Tab should be back on time next year,” Schaffer said.