By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The season is over for rookie safety Lamont Thompson, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday morning.

The operation repaired torn cartilage in the knee, which the Bengals discovered in October during a routine MRI, trainer Paul Sparling said.

The decision was made that Thompson would play out the season, but the condition gradually worsened. After Thompson complained Monday of increased pain, he was sent to doctors.

Sparling said he expects Thompson to need six weeks to recover and enter offseason workouts at full speed.

Thompson, the Bengals' second-round pick from Washington State, has been a disappointment. He was handed the starting job in training camp but lost it before the opener to Mark Roman.

Thompson never seemed to catch on to the defensive scheme, and he finished his rookie season with one interception and nine tackles.

EMPTY HOUSE: The game Sunday against the Jaguars at Paul Brown Stadium is not expected to sell out by today's 1 p.m. deadline to lift the local television blackout.

INJURY REPORT: Wide receiver Peter Warrick, cornerback Artrell Hawkins (thigh) and right tackle Willie Anderson did not practice Wednesday.

Warrick was discharged from Christ Hospital in Mount Auburn on Monday after spending Sunday night there. He suffered bruised lungs during Sunday's game at Carolina.

RUMOR MILL: The Sporting News is reporting that Dick LeBeau might be back to honor what it says is the third season of a three-year contract.

The magazine reports that LeBeau is supposed to receive $800,000 in his third year but that the Bengals have an option that could get them out of the deal.

The length of LeBeau's contract has been speculated to be either two or three season, but neither LeBeau nor Bengals president Mike Brown has revealed details of the contract.

TOY DRIVE: The Bengals and the U.S. Marine Corps will collect toys for needy children during this Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

The Toys for Tots program has received 52,000 requests for assistant this holiday season, but only 22,000 have been filled so far.

Marine Corps reserve volunteers will be stationed at all stadium gates to accept new, unwrapped toy donations. The drive will begin at 11 a.m. and continue through 2 p.m.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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