He had been fitted with the boot and walked with crutches for almost a week. Word is he is expected to return to practice the week of Aug. 25 and could be ready to play in the regular-season opener Sept. 7 at Baltimore. He had eight sacks last season for the Titans and was signed to team with fellow end Robert Geathers to bolster what was the NFL's weakest pass rush in 2007. The Bengals had just 22 sacks.

--DE Jonathan Fanene has been starting in place of Antwan Odom at right end ahead of Frostee Rucker.

--RT Willie Anderson worked into the rotation with the starting offensive line in the first half of the loss to the Saints, replacing projected starter Stacy Andrews, who went back in with starters at the opening of the second half.

--WR Marcus Maxwell was waived injured and reverted back to the Bengals' injured reserve list following a serious thigh injury sustained while doing extra work after practice Tuesday.

--DB Ethan Kilmer, a difference-making special teams player as a rookie in 2006, missed all of 2007 and is out again for 2008 after clearing waivers and going on the Bengals injured reserve list with a thigh injury.

--LB Keith Rivers made his second preseason start against the Saints and had a team-high eight tackles (four solo, four assists), including one sack, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits.

--CB Deltha O'Neal, given the job as top punt returner since his defensive role has been reduced, has failed to win the job and might end up losing it to WR Antonio Chatman.

BATTLE FRONTS: WR Antonio Chatman opened the preseason as the No. 1 punt return man for the third year in a row. But with CB Deltha O'Neal having a reduced role on defense, he will be given the chance to win the job. ... Coaches say the snaps G Bobbie Williams has been taking at center are just an emergency precaution, but the bigger line might suggest some unhappiness with the performance of starting C Eric Ghiaciuc. With Williams moving to center for 11-on-11 team drills during the camp practice Thursday, Stacy Andrews moved from right tackle to right guard, with healthy 13th-year pro Willie Anderson returning to right tackle. The left side stays the same with Levi Jones at tackle and Andrew Whitworth at guard.

ROOKIE REPORT: First-round LB Keith Rivers continues to impress with his maturity, seriousness and solid play on the field. ... The best news about WRs Jerome Simpson (second) and Andre Caldwell (third) is that they have avoided injuries and have been on the field every day; Caldwell had sore legs Aug. 9, but returned to play two nights later at Green Bay. ... Fourth-round OL Anthony Collins is quietly having a solid camp as the No. 2 left tackle. ... Sixth-round S Corey Lynch continues to make plays, recovering a fumble against the Packers.

INJURY REPORT:

--QB Carson Palmer sustained a broken nose while being sacked against the Saints on Aug. 23. He had a broken bone aligned Sunday morning and was listed as questionable for Thursday's preseason finale at Indianapolis. He is expected to be fine to start the opener Sept. 7 at Baltimore.