Getty ImagesRookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick’s injury was a bit of bad news for the Bengals this week, but they got better news about another corner on Friday.
Leon Hall told Geoff Hobson of the team’s website that he has been fully cleared to resume practicing. Hall last played in Week 10 last season, when he tore his left Achilles tendon. That led to surgery that kept him out for all of the team’s spring work and created some uncertainty for Cincinnati in the secondary, but he’s finally ready to go.
Given the severity of his injury, Hall will likely be eased back into a full workload while the team gauges how much his layoff has cost him in terms of speed and agility. Hall has been the Bengals’ best cornerback over the last couple of seasons, which is why they signed him to a five-year, $42 million contract before last season. A return to full speed for Hall would be a huge boost for the Bengals defense and could wind up costing Nate Clements, Terence Newman or Adam Jones a job before the start of the regular season.
Kirkpatrick also spoke to Hobson and said that he does not have a broken bone in his knee, as has been widely reported over the last few days. He termed his injury “a bump in the road” but offered no information about when he might be over that bump and carrying a full workload.
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You can never have enough corners, get well soon Dre.
Go Reds.