When the Bengals cut defensive tackle Shaun Smith only three days after re-signing him last week, we initially assumed that he already had said or done something that he shouldn’t have said or done.
Again.
But Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the move resulted from the team’s need for another defensive back against the Vikings, and that Smith could be back this week.
And back he is.
The Bengals have re-re-signed Smith, cutting receiver Maurice Purify.
Cincinnati is light at defensive tackle due to injuries to Domata Peko and others. As it turns out, they needed the help in the secondary on Sunday, since Chris Crocker re-injured an ankle and made a fairly early exit. James Walker of ESPN.com recently reported that Crocker is expected to miss two-to-three weeks.