CINCINNATI -- That brutal Pittsburgh game brought an end to Adam Jones' season. Could it also be the end to his time as a Bengal?
The team put the 34-year-old cornerback on the Reserve/Injured list Saturday. It was for a groin injury he suffered making an interception during Monday night's game against the Steelers. Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered the night's worst injury, when his legs went limp after making a head-first tackle on wide receiver Josh Malone. He underwent surgery in Pittsburgh Wednesday night to stabilize his injured spine.
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With four games left of regular season play and a post-season unlikely, Saturday's move means Jones won't be coming back in 2017. He'll end his season with nine starts, 23 tackles (19 solo), one interception and four passes defensed. He also averaged 21.8 yards on six punt returns.
ESPN reports Jones will be replaced by second-year cornerback William Jackson III, the Bengals' first-round pick in 2016.
Jones is an 11th-year player who's been with the Bengals since 2010. He is entering the final season of a contract extension signed in 2016, ESPN reports -- and because there's no guaranteed money left, the Bengals can walk away without a cap hit.
The NFL suspended Jones for this season's opener for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy after videos showed him repeatedly cursing a police officer and resisting jailers following a January arrest Downtown. He was docked one game's pay -- $425,000 -- from his $6.8 million salary.
It was the 10th time Jones has been arrested since joining the NFL and the fourth time since he came to the Bengals in 2010, according to NFLArrest.com.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business, saying "the video truly is not a representation of me." Two other misdemeanors were dropped.
