Donald

Lee

Lee will serve as a blocking tight end that can help mentor young talent Jermaine Gresham. He essentially replaces Bo Scaife, who was lost for the season prior to Week 1 due to a shoulder injury.

Lee caught 11 passes for 115 yards as an injury fill-in and second blocker in two-tight end sets last season. Turning 32 this summer, Lee will compete with Colin Cochart for the No. 2 tight end job.

With Jermaine Gresham (hamstring) a late scratch, Lee was the primary pass-catching tight end. The 31-year-old ex-Packer showed surprising speed on a 26-yard seam route in the second half, but saw just three targets. Even if Gresham’s hamstring issue lingers, Lee won’t be a fantasy option.

Gresham has yet to practice this week after injuring his hamstring in last Friday’s practice. Ex-Packer Donald Lee will fill in against a Titans defense that allows the 21st-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Gresham may have encountered a setback after a limited practice Wednesday, but he is working on the side today. With backup Donald Lee in a protective walking boot, the Bengals tight ends should be hands-off this week against the Steelers.

He surprised with a few nifty moves and would have had a fourth catch if not for a defensive pass interference call. If Gresham misses more time, Lee will be worth a look as a low-end TE2 but nothing more.

Gresham was added to the injury report on Friday after apparently tweaking his hammy in practice. It turns out to be more serious than originally thought, giving veteran Donald Lee the start. Other Bengals inactives: WR Ryan Whalen, G Clint Boling, LB Dontay Moch, LB Rey Maualuga, CB Morgan Trent and S Robert Sands.

Battling a September thigh injury, Lee had yet to play a snap this season. The 32-year-old caught 11 passes for 115 yards as Jermaine Gresham’s backup a year ago. Those duties now fall to rookie Orson Charles.

Lee was released by the Bengals in September. The Texans are likely just updating their emergency list. Lee has only 22 catches since the end of the 2009 season.

The Bengals have a huge edge in this one as the Broncos are missing five front-line players due to injury. Meanwhile, Cincy is very healthy and has no surprises on their inactive list.