Kirkpatrick returns to OTAs with cast on

Cincinnati Bengals crnerback Dre Kirkpatrick returned to limited on-field work Tuesday with a cast on the hand he broke this offseason just in time for the team’s mandatory minicamp.
Kirkpatrick signed a five-year, $52.5 million contract in the offseason with the Bengals after testing free agency for the first time in his career.
The team’s 2012 first-round pick out of Alabama has had an up-and-down career thus far, especially in the past two seasons, his first seasons as a starter, improving to a 74.7 PFF grade in 2016 after a 39.6 grade in 2015.
The increase of 35.1 is the fourth-highest of any cornerback last season to play enough snaps to be ranked the past two years.
Although Kirkpatrick was tied for the league lead (with Vernon Hargreaves III) in missed tackles by a cornerback with 14 last season, and 30 missed tackles over the past two seasons (with Antwon Blake).
After the Bengals’ Week 9 Bye, Kirkpatrick allowed the sixth-lowest passer rating in the league (50.3) and played the most coverage snaps by a CB to not allow a touchdown.