By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals' third round draft pick, Kelley Washington. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Kelley Washington returned to practice Tuesday morning, but he didn't have Carson Palmer available to throw the ball to him.

Washington, a rookie wide receiver, missed Sunday's preseason game against the New York Jets. He flew to Dallas to get a second opinion on his surgically repaired neck from the doctor who fused two vertebrae in November. The doctor cleared Washington.

Rookie quarterback Palmer missed his first practice of training camp because he partially tore the plantar fascia tendon in his right foot during the Jets game. The injury is not serious.

Palmer could miss today's practices but said he would play in the preseason home opener Saturday night against Detroit.

He said he sprained the tendon while sprinting during the minicamp in May. Tearing the tendon, Palmer said, is better than having to get it cut surgically.

"It's been bugging me a little, and I haven't been able to sprint since that minicamp," said Palmer, who watched practice and walked with a limp.

Palmer is getting extra treatment on the foot each morning and at night, and he said he hopes to practice today.

"I'll be able to play Saturday," Palmer said.

Maybe not, coach Marvin Lewis said a few minutes later.

"He hates missing practice. He was trying to do things to get out here," Lewis said. "But we're going to take it slower with him than he'd like. He has a chance to be out here tomorrow and out here Thursday, for sure, if things progress."

As for Palmer playing against the Lions, "We don't know," Lewis said. "If he's not feeling right, it will be (based on) how he responds. It's not a debilitating injury at all, it's a pain thing."

Washington wasn't in physical pain but needed the emotional reassurance that he was OK to play, Lewis said.

Though Washington had flown with the team to New Jersey, the Bengals had to excuse him from the game because the NFL's collective bargaining agreement entitled him to a second medical opinion.

Washington saw Dr. Drew Dossett, an orthopedist and spinal cord expert, in Dallas on Monday.

"I just wanted that peace of mind from my doctor," Washington said after the morning practice. "The timing was kind of bad. It was late, but we had to schedule it around my surgeon."

Washington said the visit was not the result of a hard hit or collision last week in practice.

"It was just the thought pattern, to be totally sure," he said.

Washington, expected to be the Bengals' third wide receiver, was the team's third-round draft pick in April. He missed the first four days of training camp, the scrimmage and the mock game because of a contract dispute before signing a three-year deal Aug. 3.

He has looked impressive in camp. He has a rare combination of size and speed and has shown both in practice.

"Other than not playing in the game, we haven't missed a beat with him," Lewis said.

Washington's absence was the surreal topper to a disappointing performance against the Jets, a 28-13 loss.

The Bengals returned to practice Tuesday morning. After a sluggish start, the tempo improved and coaches became more vocal.

"This is the urgent day. This is the day after," Lewis said. "We're not going to lull around and accept it. We're going to move forward."

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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