GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Bengals kicker Doug Pelfrey, who is being challenged for his starting job by rookie Neil Rackers, doesn't have to shoulder the blame for the game-ending blocked field goal against Buffalo anymore.

        After studying tapes of the last play in Saturday's 21-20 loss to the Bills, special teams coach Al Roberts said Sunday faulty footwork from the left side of the offensive line allowed too much penetration.

        “You cannot allow that kind of penetration, not like that,” Roberts said. “There are no marks on Pelfrey at all.”

        Roberts' analysis differs from coach Bruce Coslet, who said at a Saturday news conference that Pelfrey took too long to kick the ball.

        Ideally, the kicker should make contact with the ball between 1.25 and 1.33 seconds after the snap, Roberts said. Pelfrey typically averages between 1.4 and 1.5 seconds.

        Rackers, taken in the sixth round, is the first kicker drafted by the Bengals since they picked Pelfrey in the eighth round in 1993.

        INJURY UPDATES: A sore hamstring kept rookie wide receiver Ron Dugans from making the trip to Buffalo, but he was back in action at Sunday's practice.Dugans ran patterns with the other wideouts, though the injury prevented him from going full speed. He is listed as probable for Friday's preseason game at Atlanta.

        Another rookie receiver, Tariq McDonald pulled up limping after running a deep route during practice Sunday. He hobbled through a few more patterns, before sitting out the rest of practice. The injury does not appear to be serious.

        The following players will not play at Atlanta because of injury: SS JoJuan Armour (groin), DE Michael Bankston (knee), DT Tom Barndt (chest), RB Michael Basnight (wrist), C Rich Braham (knee) and LB Alan Buckwalter (hamstring).

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