CINCINNATI - Receiver Brandon LaFell likely won't play Thursday night when his Cincinnati Bengals visit the Detroit Lions in both teams' second preseason game, coach Marvin Lewis said Tuesday.
According to a report, he could miss more than just this week's game.
NFL.com reported Tuesday morning that LaFell could undergo surgery that wouldn't end his season on his right hand after tearing a ligament. The website also said it was possible LaFell could opt for rehab and try to play through the injury. During an interview session with reporters following Tuesday's walkthrough, Lewis implied the latter might happen.
Asked if LaFell might miss time when the regular season started, Lewis replied: "No." In regard to Thursday's game, Lewis said he'll make a decision just before it.
The seventh-year receiver, who didn't play Friday in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings, has had his right hand wrapped for about a week. Even with that, he has participated in some parts of Bengals practices. On Monday, an uncovered LaFell caught passes from Andy Dalton in quarterback-receiver route drills.
He did not participate in the team portions of the workout that day, and he didn't participate at all in Tuesday's walkthrough.
Bengals receivers coach James Urban said little will change for the Bengals if LaFell has to miss much time. The same leadership the 29-year-old veteran has shown since arriving this spring as a free agent has been evident while he's been hurt, Urban said.
"He was on the sideline coaching them up and interacting with them and all that, and he's been out with us in practice trying to keep his lungs and continue to stay in football shape while dealing with that thing," Urban said. "So he's around. ... It's just that we're not getting the reps with Andy right now."
Although LaFell played in 11 games with the Patriots in 2015, he was playing through an ankle injury all season. He likely will have to do that again with his injured hand.
This injury is the latest to have befallen the Bengals in recent weeks. On Monday, rookie defensive tackle Andrew Billings underwent surgery to fix a meniscus tear in a knee. Last week, the Bengals learned cornerbacks Darqueze Dennard (ankle) and William Jackson III (chest) would miss time with serious injuries. Dennard should be back in time for the start of the season, but Jackson, the Bengals' 2016 first-round pick, could be out all season like Billings.
Also this training camp the Bengals have lost tight end Tyler Kroft for multiple weeks after he suffered an in-practice knee injury. With him sidelined, the Bengals are down to their third tight end, as starter Tyler Eifert was already rehabbing an ankle injury he received in the Pro Bowl. The Bengals are optimistic Eifert, Kroft, Dennard and LaFell could be in uniform Week 1 at the New York Jets.
"There's nothing you can do," Lewis said of preseason injuries. "The fortunate thing of it is when it counts you have everybody up and running. That's the key element. If we don't, we'll have them up and running soon after that."