Bengals LT Jones headed for knee surgery
CINCINNATI (Ticker) - The Cincinnati Bengals will enter a challenging portion of their schedule without starting left tackle Levi Jones.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis announced Monday that Jones likely will need arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Jones suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday’s 14-13 loss at Tampa Bay.
The loss of Jones, who protects quarterback Carson Palmer’s blind side, is a significant one for the Bengals (3-2), who are entering a stretch where they will face some of the league’s top defenses.
In their next four games, the Bengals play Carolina, Atlanta, Baltimore and San Diego.
Rookie Andrew Whitworth, a second-round pick out of LSU, is expected to replace Jones in the lineup.
Cincinnati already has been without starting center Rich Braham, who suffered a knee injury in Week Two.
After scoring 95 points in a 3-0 start, the Bengals have managed just 13 in each of their last two games - both losses.
