Source: Travelle Wharton out for year

Updated: August 11, 2012, 2:28 PM ET
By John Clayton | ESPN.com

The Cincinnati Bengals' worst fears were realized Saturday when they found out guard Travelle Wharton will be lost for the season.

According to a source, Wharton suffered a season-ending knee injury during Friday night's preseason-opening 17-6 victory against the New York Jets.

Bengals Run Into Problem

The Bengals were hoping to get their running game on track this season, but the loss of starting left guard Travelle Wharton won't help matters, writes Jamison Hensley. Blog

• AFC North blog

Wharton went down while pass blocking on the Bengals' third play of the game, rolled over in pain and stayed down for several minutes while trainers moved his leg to check his knee. He eventually was carted off the field.

Wharton signed as a free agent last March after spending eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers.

Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga and defensive end Carlos Dunlap also left the field with injured right knees during the following series Friday night, costing the team three of its starters in the opening 5 minutes.

Maualuga didn't return, but walked around the sideline freely. The linebacker said after the game that he thinks he'll be all right.

Dunlap eventually walked off the field slowly with assistance. He had 9½ sacks as a rookie in 2010, but was limited by injuries last year and had only 4½ sacks.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

John Clayton

NFL senior writer
  • Senior NFL writer and commentator
  • Joined ESPN in 1995
  • Member of the writers' wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio

SPONSORED HEADLINES

MORE NFL HEADLINES

MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM

ESPN Conversations

comments