By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

There was no new official word Tuesday from University Hospital on Dennis Weathersby's condition, but anecdotal evidence continues to point to improvement.

Weathersby, 23, a Bengals cornerback, suffered a head injury in a one-car crash April 12 when he lost control of his vehicle on an interstate entrance ramp and struck a utility pole. His condition was upgraded last week to fair from serious.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis accompanied him on the emergency helicopter flight from a suburban hospital and University Hospital.

"Dennis has been recovering very well," Lewis said Tuesday during a chat on Cincinnati.Com. "We are hopeful he can recover and have a productive life."

Teammates who have visited Weathersby in the hospital recently say he is up and walking around.

VETERAN STATUS: The Bengals will hold their three-day rookie minicamp Friday through Sunday.

Veterans will be able to practice Friday under league guidelines that allow for a certain number of on-field coaching sessions in the offseason.

Practices will be held Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday mornings, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at practice fields adjacent to Paul Brown Stadium.

"We get our first look at the athletic ability and mental retention of the rookie players," is Lewis' analysis of minicamp.

INSIDE: Construction continues to replace the stadium's former natural grass field with synthetic FieldTurf.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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