Bengals LE Carlos Dunlap's knee injury, suffered in Friday's preseason opener, is initially being called a sprain.

We suspect Bengals docs will put him through tests Saturday morning. Another injury would be a tough break for a player who's struggled to stay healthy. It is perhaps promising that Dunlap was able to walk off the field on his own power.

Carlos Dunlap is listed as the starting left defensive end on the Bengals initial depth chart.

Presumed starter Robert Geathers (knee) has been out since the first day of camp. "Dunlap has come out here and done really good things, and that's a good thing," coach Marvin Lewis said. "Right now he's playing the best football so he's No.1 on the depth chart." Dunlap posted 9.5 sacks in just 12 games as a rookie in 2010, but has been hampered by injuries since.

Bengals DC Mike Zimmer believes third-year DE Carlos Dunlap will have to be willing to play through injuries to capture his potential.

Dunlap has flashed dominant pass-rush ability his first two seasons, but has all too often been on the shelf. "He doesn't know how to fight through nagging things yet," said Zimmer. "In this game, you can't be a track guy. You've got to be a football player. ... Usually they say with defensive linemen it takes about three years before they really kind of figure it out. So this is his third year, and I'm hoping he can live up to my expectations."

Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap is aiming for a 10-sack season.

Dunlap notched 9.5 sacks in 12 games as a rookie in 2010, but was limited to 4.5 in 12 games in 2011 as he struggled through a hamstring injury. Dunlap still graded out as one of Pro Football Focus' top five 4-3 defensive ends, however, tallying 13 quarterback hits and 29 pressures to go along with his sacks. No Bengal has recorded 10 or more sacks since Robert Geathers in 2006.

Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) is "completely healthy" entering the postseason.

Dunlap's 4.5 sack total is deceiving, as he also had 13 QB hits and 29 QB pressures to finish as a top-five 4-3 defensive end in Pro Football Focus' ratings. He and DT Geno Atkins are Cincinnati's most important defenders with CB Leon Hall (Achilles) out.

Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) is optimistic about his chances of playing in Week 15 against the Rams.

Dunlap has put together consecutive practices and is expected to be active this week. He'll provide depth behind Robert Geathers and Frostee Rucker when active.

The Bengals have ruled out DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) for Week 13.

Dunlap will miss his second straight game and hasn't practiced since re-aggravating his injury two weeks ago at Baltimore. The Steelers passing game will likely benefit from his absence. Nate Clements (hamstring) is considered a game-time decision after missing Friday's practice and will be a solid matchup play for Mike Wallace at less than full health. Kelly Jennings and SS Chris Crocker will line up against Antonio Brown.

The Bengals have ruled out DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) for Week 12.

Dunlap is Cincinnati's best edge pass rusher, so this is notable for IDP purposes. The Browns' passing game is unlikely to capitalize on Dunlap's absence.

Although his injury was initially diagnosed as "cramps," Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap has yet to practice this week due to a hamstring pull.

If Dunlap can't play Sunday, it would be as big of a loss to the Bengals as LaMarr Woodley is to the Steelers. Pro Football Focus' highest-rated 4-3 end, Dunlap is among the NFL leaders in both QB hits and QB pressures.

Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap left Sunday's Week 9 game late in the fourth quarter with what he called "cramps."

This is good news considering how he writhed around in pain, clutching at what appeared to be a hamstring injury. On the surface, it doesn't appear like he'll miss any time. Pro Football Focus ranks him as the second-highest rated 4-3 defensive end in the NFL.

Although Carlos Dunlap has yet to record a sack this season, he leads the team with eight quarterback pressures.

He's still bringing the heat. Dunlap is Pro Football Focus' second-highest rated 4-3 defensive end while playing 125 of the Bengals' 251 defensive snaps. A key cog in Cincinnati's top-rated defense, Dunlap's sacks will come soon.

Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap (knee) is expected to be ready for Cincinnati's season opener.

Dunlap has been sidelined with a strained knee, but ran on Saturday and may suit up for the Bengals' preseason finale on Thursday. Dunlap will not begin the season as a starter, but is expected to spell LE Robert Geathers on passing downs. Dunlap tallied 9.5 sacks in 12 games as a rookie in 2010.

Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer does not project Carlos Dunlap as a starter this season.

The apparent expectation is that Dunlap will be a nickel rusher, replacing LE Robert Geathers on passing downs when Geathers kicks inside to tackle. If Dunlap isn't a starter, he won't rack up a high number of tackles for IDP purposes. He will still be a legit sack threat after posing 9.5 in his rookie season.

Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap has signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Dunlap still has three years remaining on his rookie contract, so the Bengals will likely have him for cheap for at least the next two seasons. The former Florida product has 9 1/2 sacks as a rookie and has a lot of upside heading into 2011.

Carlos Dunlap set the Bengals' rookie sack record with 9 1/2.

Dunlap, a second-round pick out of Florida, came out of the gates slow in a nickel role. But he quickly came on with more playing time, recording all of his sacks over the final eight weeks. There's upside for here for a monster season as we look to 2011.

Rookie DE Carlos Dunlap leads the Bengals with three sacks this season.

All three of the sacks have come in the last three games in a nickel pass-rushing role. While he's unquestionably the Bengals' most talented pass rusher, Dunlap still has a long way to go on fundamentals and cutting down on mental mistakes.

Bengals signed rookie DE Carlos Dunlap, the No. 54 overall pick, to a four-year contract.

Wildly talented, Dunlap fell well out of the first round of April's draft due to off-the-field concerns coupled with on-the-field concerns about his motor. We heard the same about Calais Campbell two years ago, however, and Dunlap's skill set is similar. He's the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect.

Bengals selected Florida DE Carlos Dunlap with the No. 54 pick in the 2010 draft.

Though he's a physical freak at 6'6/277 with 4.6 speed, Dunlap has drawn comparisons to the Bengals third-round pick of last season, Michael Johnson, for his lack of consistency and effort. A favorite of NFL Network draft analyst Corey Chavous, Dunlap recorded nine sacks last season but just 10.5 tackles for loss. As the quintessential boom-or-bust pick with major off-field issues, he was ticketed for Cincinnati all along. He'll stay at defensive end in the NFL.