The latest is right tackle Stacy Andrews, who sustained a serious injury to his right knee late in the game Sunday at Cleveland. The uncertainty of his immediate future will affect the Bengals' offseason plans.

Andrews had played the 2008 season as the team's designated franchise player, getting a one-year deal that entitled him to a salary equal to the average of the top five offensive linemen in the NFL, $7,455,000.

The Bengals had wanted to sign Andrews to a long-term deal and had been trying to negotiate one with agent Rich Moran for a few seasons. Heading into the final weekend of the season, the Bengals -- at 3-11-1, with a 3-3-1 record in their past seven games -- have the fourth-worst record in the league.

The Bengals were in need of an offensive tackle even before Andrews' injury.

Fourth-round rookie Anthony Collins has played well in the past five games in place of the injured left tackle Levi Jones, whose body appears to be breaking down at an accelerated pace.

"Stacy looks to have a torn ACL and other ligaments in his knee after the scans came back," coach Marvin Lewis said. "I'm sure he'll concur with his representation on what the best plan of actions are, and then consult with our doctors and go from there."

The Bengals might put Andrews on injured reserve, which would make him the 24th player on IR, a single-season franchise record. The Bengals have two offensive linemen on their practice squad, Digger Bujnoch and James Blair, who easily could be signed to the active roster.

If the Bengals do not have to pay Andrews a big contract or invest their franchise tag on him again, they could use the designation on wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, also eligible for unrestricted free agency in the offseason. Lewis was asked at his news conference if the team would use its franchise tag again on Andrews.

"I have no idea," he said. "Unfortunately Stacy was injured on basically one of the last six, seven plays of the game."