CINCINNATI -- The most intriguing pre-training camp storyline involving the Cincinnati Bengals this week has centered around their No. 4 receiver and his early appearance on injured reserve.
When James Wright's season officially ended Wednesday, the obvious question became: what now?
The combination of ineffective play from veterans further down the depth chart and general inexperience from younger players has many questioning the Bengals' depth beyond their top three receivers.
A.J. Green, Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu are going to pace the group. But what if one or more of them gets hurt? Who would replace them? That's a question receivers coach James Urban is just as anxious to answer.
"We have talented players in the room and it's time for them to step up," Urban said.
It's a room that includes Brandon Tate, Denarius Moore, Cobi Hamilton, Onterio McCalebb Tevin Reese, and rookies Jake Kumerow and Mario Alford. On Thursday another rookie, former Lions undrafted free agent Desmond Lawrence, joined the group as a free-agency signing.
"Hopefully one or two of those guys steps up and takes the opportunity because there's going to be an opportunity," Urban said.
Wright was hurt during the Bengals' Week 13 win last season at Tampa Bay. He suffered a knee injury that never fully healed. According to Bengals.com, there's talk about Wright undergoing surgery to help fix a PCL tear in his knee that never properly healed.
"It was frustrating for him because it looked like he was just turning the corner [this offseason], even though he'd had setbacks along the way," Urban said. "Frustrating for him, frustrating for us. We'd obviously love to have him, and he'd love to be out here, but as they say, it's the next man up. Wish it wasn't this way, but it is."
