The Bengals got good news Friday as four key players who've been fighting injuries this week were listed as probable for Sunday's game against the New York Jets at Paul Brown Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled 4:05 p.m. The Bengals are seeking a fourth consecutive win overall and their first 4-0 start at home since going 8-0 at Riverfront Stadium in 1988.
Defensive end Wallace Gilberry (knee), wide receiver Marvin Jones (shoulder), linebacker Rey Maualuga (hamstring) and cornerback Terence Newman (ankle) are all expected to be available. The Bengals are 5-2 and in first place in the AFC North division, two games ahead of Baltimore and Cleveland. The Jets (4-3) are coming off a 30-27 overtime win against New England at home last Sunday.
Jones is one of six receivers for the Bengals that are on pace to finish with more than 500 yards in receptions. He leads all Bengals receivers with a 15.4 yard-per-catch average and his three touchdown receptions are second only to A.J. Green's five scoring catches. He has 16 receptions for 247 yards this season. He had 18 catches for 201 yards and one touchdown as a rookie last season.
Maualuga is having his best season with the Bengals. He is second on the team in tackles and has improved in pass coverage. Newman leads the Bengals with nine pass breakups and becomes the top cornerback for the Bengals after Leon Hall suffered an injury to his right Achilles tendon last week at Detroit. Gilberry has contributed three sacks and is a main part of the defensive line rotation.
Gilberry and Newman had full participation at practice Friday. Jones and Maualuga were limited.
Head coach Marvin Lewis told reporters after Friday's practice that there would be no roster transactions this weekend regarding Hall or defensive lineman Devon Still. Still left the game last Sunday with an elbow injury. Both players have been listed as out for the Jets game since Wednesday's initial injury report.
Rookie running back Rex Burkhead is listed as questionable with a calf injury. Burkhead has not been on the 45-man active gameday roster yet this season.
The Jets have already ruled out wide receiver Santonio Holmes. The former Ohio State Buckeye has a hamstring injury and is expected to miss his fourth consecutive game.
Center Nick Mangold, another former Buckeye and a native of Centerville, is listed as questionable with a rib injury. He has been limited in practice all week.
