http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=6185 12:35 p.m. The Bengals' worst fears were realized Friday when an MRI revealed that rookie running back Kenny Irons is lost for the season with a tear of his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, extending a horrifying streak of bad luck when it comes to their running backs that began with a similar injury to Ickey Woods in 1989. The club said in a news release that a full recovery is expected and that Irons should be ready to participate in next spring's workouts. Irons, a second-rounder out of Auburn, had been one of the stars of the preseason in jetting to 64 yards on 10 carries in last week's intrasquad scrimmage. And flashing perimeter speed they thought would be just the right complement to Rudi Johnson's inside game, Irons had just ripped off an 11-yard gain in Thursday's preseason opener in Detroit before getting hurt on his fourth carry of the game. At the end of that seven-yard run, Irons limped off the field. The irony of Irons' situation is chilling. In a 1995 preseason game in Detroit against the Lions, running back Ki-Jana Carter, the NFL's overall No. 1 draft pick, tore his ACL on the third carry of his career. The Bengals drafted Irons to give them what 2004 first-rounder Chris Perry hasn't been able to give them because of his own injury problems. Perry hasn't been on campus at Georgetown College as he rehabs from ankle surgery and plans to start his second straight season on the physically unable to perform list. The PUP takes him out of practice for the first five games and six weeks of the regular-season. In 2005, his one healthy season, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry and nearly broke the club record for catches by a running back with 51. But he has played in only 22 games of a possible 49.
I happened to turn on the game right when it happened. It didnt really look that bad. I thought it was an ankle and he walked off hobbling on his own.
Yea, this really does suck. I was looking forward to watching him, and really thought (think?) he could be a very solid NFL back.
That sucks. I think he still will have a good career. Their are too many damn Auburn backs in the NFL anyways. :yelwink2:
That's terrible. That's pretty weird with the Bengals. Just think if you're one of the best running backs on the board at draft day and Cinci's on the clock.
