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    Cincinnati Bengals starting cornerback Trae Waynes could miss first month of season

    Bengals cornerback Trae Waynes is dealing with a pectoral injury.
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    The Cincinnati Bengals in recent years had been incredibly frugal in free agency, rarely spending big money other than to perhaps re-sign their own guys. That changed this past winter as the team rebooted under rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow. The Bengals spent quite a bit of money, including a combined $95 million on contracts for cornerback Trae Waynes and defensive tackle DJ Reader. However, Waynes could now miss the first month or so of the season after suffering a pectoral injury in practice Monday.

    Waynes is seeking a second opinion on the injury and the worst-case scenario would be sitting for up to two months from today. What's somewhat ironic here is that Waynes' agent had told his client not to do any football drills this offseason while he waited to get his $15 million signing bonus, and Waynes admitted that affected him from training like usual. Waynes only got that bonus last month when camp opened.

    Coach Zac Taylor on Waynes' pectoral injury: "Yea, it just happened this week. It is unfortunate. Those guys have been working hard since they've been in the building. It's just an unfortunate situation. These things happen during training camp."  

    Cincinnati gave the 28-year-old a three-year $42 million contract in March with a total of $20 million in Year 1. Waynes was a first-round pick in 2015 out of Michigan State by the Minnesota Vikings who largely started over his career with the Vikes.

    Some cornerbacks try to avoid tackling, but Waynes is a good tackler, ranking in the top four among Vikings defenders in solo tackles in all but one of his seasons with the team. Waynes only has seven career interceptions, though, and allowed a passer rating of 107.9 when targeted in 2019.

    With Drew Kirkpatrick waived earlier this year, Waynes was projected to start at left corner. He had been pretty durable, never missing more than two games in his NFL career. Mackensie Alexander or Darius Phillips could start in his place.

    Cincinnati opens Sept. 13 at home as currently a 3-point underdog on the William Hill NFL odds vs. the LA Chargers. If Waynes misses the first month or so, that would also include games at Cleveland, at Philadelphia and vs. Jacksonville. 

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    SportsLine Staff

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