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CINCINNATI -- Coach Marvin Lewis has a great deal of respect for veteran cornerback Adam Jones and what he brings to the team. After missing the game a week earlier because of a foot injury, Jones wasn't quite 100 percent on Sunday when he produced four tackles in the 31-7 victory over the Rams.
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Lewis praised Jones' effort and said the defense feeds off his energy even when he's hobbled.
"He was disappointed with his play, but after watching the film I texted him this morning and said: 'You played pretty well. Don't be so hard on yourself,'" said Lewis on Monday.
"His foot's a little sore. He sucked it up, went out there and played. Says a lot about his maturity."
After being limited in practice during the week, Jones tested his foot during pregame warmups and was cleared to play. He did not return punts, however.
--Tight end Tyler Eifert made a heads-up play on Sunday when he trailed running back Gio Bernard's long-gainer, putting him in position to recover the fumble after Bernard was stripped from behind. But Eifert's hustle proved costly as he suffered a stinger and was forced to leave the game. Tests showed no structural damage, but his status for Sunday's game at Cleveland is uncertain. Eifert leads NFL receivers with 12 touchdown catches this season.
--RB Jeremy Hill who has had a rough season to date, ran with a purpose on Sunday. He gained 86 yards on 16 carries for a 5.4 average before leaving in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. "Jeremy runs as Jeremy runs and we block as we block; it all works together," coach Marvin Lewis said. "I've not seen a back yet gain yardage if we don't block. Jeremy is doing everything he can do all the time so we just keep doing what we're doing." Hill is coming off a breakout rookie season in which he rushed for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns.
--Cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris was carted off because of a rib injury in the second quarter on Sunday and did not return. His injury further challenges the Bengals' depth in the secondary.
NOTES: Offensive lineman Cedric Ogbuehi, the Bengals' top draft choice in 2015, was added to the 53-man roster, replacing cornerback Darqueze Dennard after the second-year corner was placed on Injured Reserve because of a shoulder injury. Ogbuehi has yet to make his NFL debut because of a knee injury sustained at Texas A&M. ... Cornerback Asa Jackson was signed to the Bengals practice squad on Monday to add depth in the secondary which has experienced several injuries in the past week. Jackson was a fifth-round draft choice of Baltimore in 2012, appearing in 18 games for the Ravens, including four this season before being waived on Nov. 20. ... Guard Dan France, a first-year player from Michigan State was waived from the practice squad on Monday. ... Linebacker Sean Porter was waived on Monday from the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. Porter had been medically cleared to resume practice with the Bengals earlier this month, and Tuesday was to mark the end of a 21-day window in which he was allowed to practice without counting against the roster limit.
