Thursday, August 28, 1997
NOTEBOOK
Myers to start at safety
BY CHRIS HAFT
Though Bo Orlando has recovered well from the hernia he suffered in late July, the eighth-year veteran will cede his starting spot at free safety to Greg Myers for Sunday's season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
Orlando, who underwent surgery July 26, missed the first three exhibition games before participating in last Friday's preseason finale against Seattle. His 139 tackles led the team last year.
"Bo will play (against Arizona)," coach Bruce Coslet said Wednesday. "But he has missed a month."
Orlando still will receive significant playing time. He and Myers are both on the field in Cincinnati's "nickel" and "dime" alignments, which utilize extra defensive backs for apparent passing situations.
Wilkinson resumed practice following his injury - "After they treated me for a heart attack," Coslet joked - but reported to the team's Spinney Field training complex with soreness and tenderness in the knee on Wednesday. "We said, 'Let's be smart,' " trainer Paul Sparling said.
Sparling described strong safety Tremain Mack's playing status as "day-to-day" and remained "cautiously optimistic" that the rookie will play Sunday. Mack, who's recovering from a slight cartilage tear in his right knee, is officially listed as probable for the Cardinals.
Defensive end Ramondo Stallings, who suffered a bruised chest in Tuesday's practice, remained questionable for Arizona but shook off some of the soreness that had plagued him, Sparling said.
This was intriguing only because Coslet had said that Anderson, who played left tackle last year, would stay on the right side this season. Of course, Wednesday's switch was borne of necessity.
As Coslet explained, "I don't know whether AB (backup tackle Anthony Brown) will be active some weeks, and who's going to play if Rod gets hurt? Think about it. We try to touch all the bases the best we can, and still prepare them to play their normal position."
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Injury report
The sight of Dan Wilkinson watching and not participating in practice proved insignificant. The starting defensive end was resting a bruise on his right knee which he sustained in Tuesday's workout. The Bengals' medical staff decided to give Wilkinson a day off for preventive reasons.
Just testing
While left tackle Rod Jones left practice to receive treatment for dehydration, Willie Anderson switched to Jones' spot from right tackle.
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