Playing without tight ends Tyler Eifert and Jermaine Gresham didn’t stop the Bengals from beating the Ravens in Week 17, but they’d certainly prefer to have both of them in the lineup when the Chargers come calling this weekend.
Their chances of having that happen are looking good. Gresham’s hamstring has improved enough for him to get in a limited practice on Wednesday and Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Eifert joined Gresham and the rest of the Bengals on the practice field on Thursday. Eifert has been out since suffering a stinger in Week 16, but his return to practice is a good sign that his gameday absence will also come to an end.
Wide receiver A.J. Green is also back at practice Thursday. Green sat out Wednesday’s session with what was listed as a knee injury, although it was likely as much about giving some extra rest to Green as it was about a specific injury concern.
Per Reedy, the only two Bengals not spotted at the portion of practice open to the media were cornerback Terence Newman and tackle Anthony Collins. Newman has missed several games with a knee injury while Collins is battling ankle woes.