Geno

Atkins

Rapoport adds that Atkins is expected to be cleared from his torn rotator cuff by July 1. His checkup is scheduled with Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper, who initially performed the surgery on Atkins; the 33-year-old veteran doesn’t have any reported visits planned with the team’s coaching staff or front office. Re-signing with the Bengals is still the best chance Atkins has at playing in a sub-package role at this stage of his career.

Atkins would need to accept a lower salary deal, but the Bengals haven’t ruled out bringing him back. Playing through a torn labrum, Atkins had his snaps limited when healthy last year and hasn’t generated much interest coming off an injury-shortened 2020. Re-signing with the Bengals could offer Atkins a chance to rehab his value in a sub-package role.

It’s the end of an era in Cincinnati, where Atkins -- the final holdover from the Marvin Lewis era -- played for 11 seasons. The Bengals continue to clear cap space, prompting questions about what they might do with said space. Atkins averaged 6.8 sacks per season during his time with the Bengals, and will surely get short-term offers from teams in need of interior defensive linemen. Atkins turns 33 on March 28.

Atkins is due $24.6 million in base salary through 2022 but Cincinnati can logically move on from the 33-year-old this offseason, freeing up $12.1 million in cap space with a post-June 1 designation. Atkins had surgery for a torn rotator cuff in January but is expected to be at full strength to open the regular season. Even so, his current status will likely halt any trade discussions that may have happened otherwise.

This ends his season and potentially his career with the Bengals. Atkins missed the first five weeks with shoulder issues. He never looked healthy when he returned, playing 14% of snaps in eight games. 32-year-old Atkins is signed through 2022, but the Bengals can save $9.6 million from releasing him this offseason. The Bengals would clear $11.6 million with $2.6 million in dead money by making Atkins a post-June cut.

Atkins is out for personal reasons, and it comes at a bad time against a divisional rival. The Bengals will also be missing contributing CBs Darius Phillips and LeShaun Sims, further opening things up on paper for the Pittsburgh passing offense.

He practiced in full Friday for the first time this season. Atkins, who hurt his shoulder just before the start of the regular season, will return to a Bengals defense that’s been shredded by opposing running attacks. Perhaps his presence could help the defense against the run after allowing 158.5 rushing yards per game through four weeks.

Backup DT Mike Daniels (elbow) was also ruled out — a concerning development with James Robinson and the Jaguars’ rushing attack coming to town. Christian Covington and Amani Bledsoe, who combined for a single tackle against the Eagles, will continue playing up the middle in the interim.

DL Mike Daniels (groin) will play, according to head coach Zac Taylor. A league-high 57.4 percent of plays run against the Bengals this year have been rushes with Atkins out with an injury he suffered in the final scrimmage of the offseason. Look for Miles Sanders and the Eagles to run all over Cincy this week.

The team’s website said Atkins’ looks to be out for a second straight game, along with DL Mike Daniels (groin). The Bengals’ defense has been, shall we say, porous with Atkins out of the lineup. Miles Sanders and the Eagles should be able to gouge Cincy’s front seven this week just as the Browns did in Week 2.