BENGALS NOTEBOOK Knee sprain might keep Ambrose out Tuesday, November 17, 1998
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals received good news on Ashley Ambrose Monday when a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination revealed no cartilage tear in his left knee.
But the starting cornerback was listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a mild sprain of his lateral collateral ligament.
"It's nothing serious, so that's the good thing," said Ambrose, who added he might try to practice later in the week, depending on how his knee responds to treatment.
Ambrose was hurt in the second quarter of Sunday's 24-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings as he fell to the unusually hard Metrodome artificial turf while covering a deep pass.
The Bengals' defensive captain said he wants to play against the Ravens. But as a potential unrestricted free agent, he knows to treat his knee carefully.
"If I'm able to play, fine, but I'm not going to injure myself and be foolish about the whole thing," he said. "If I can't play, I'm not going to force myself and make things even worse."
More injuries
Besides Ambrose, the most glaring injury belonged to Darnay Scott, who jammed his left big toe in Sunday's game and also was listed as questionable for the Ravens.
Trainer Paul Sparling said Scott had significant swelling and soreness around the toe, though X-rays were negative.
Added Sparling, "I couldn't consider him any better than 50-50. Turf toe can be a problem for a skill-position player like him." Others questionable include defensive tackle Glen Steele (both ankles) and linebacker Steve Foley (left ankle). Linebacker James Francis (right knee), running back Eric Bieniemy (left ankle), long snapper Greg Truitt (ankle) and defensive end Clyde Simmons (left knee) were rated as probable.
Sparling said running back Corey Dillon experienced lingering soreness from his left hip pointer, which required an anti-inflammatory shot at halftime of the Minnesota game. But Dillon wasn't listed on the team's injury report. The same went for cornerback Artrell Hawkins, who suffered a mildly sprained right ankle.
The Bengals must decide by Wednesday whether to activate defensive end John Copeland, who has practiced the last two weeks after recovering from his torn left Achilles tendon, or place him on injured reserve.
Etc.
The Bengals will conduct their annual holiday canned food drive before Sunday's game. Volunteers from the FreeStore - FoodBank will be at each gate accepting canned goods and donations.
Who's the quarterback?