Westbrook

        GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Michael Westbrook, who even three days into training camp had shown signs of becoming the Bengals' go-to wide receiver, fractured his left wrist during Sunday afternoon's practice and could be out for 4-6 weeks.

        Westbrook was scheduled to see a hand specialist in Cincinnati today to determine if surgery will be necessary. If it is, Westbrook will miss the 4-6 weeks. If it's not, he will be out a shorter time.

        Westbrook suffered the injury toward the end of practice. Trainer Paul Sparling said Westbrook remembers falling and bracing himself with his left hand, “a very common way to break it,” Sparling added.

        The 30-year-old receiver, who signed a three-year contract with the Bengals three weeks ago, broke his right wrist as a member of the Washington Redskins earlier in his career. He chose not to have surgery and missed three weeks.

        “He understands what this is about,” Sparling said. “He knows what he'll have to do to get back. It's still conceivable he could start in the opener.”

        Westbrook, at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, is a rare combination of size and speed (4.3 in the 40-yard dash). He had already been flashing the speed, strength and command of the position in the first three days of training camp.

        With Westbrook out, second-year wide receiver Chad Johnson will most likely slide into the starting lineup during the preseason. The Bengals already had lost one of their six top wide receivers for the start of training camp when Danny Farmer was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list with a hamstring injury. Sparling said he does not expect Farmer to play until the third preseason game on Aug. 24.

        The team's top four receivers currently are Peter Warrick, Johnson, Ron Dugans and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

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