WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio -- Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis announced Monday that wide receiver Marvin Jones will be out "a few weeks" after having a pin surgically placed in his left foot over the weekend.
"He doesn't have a severe injury that should keep him out for very long," Lewis said.
The fracture occurred during Saturday's practice at Paul Brown Stadium. After the workout, he was seen in deep conversation with Lewis before walking slowly back toward the locker room. He had not played in Thursday night's preseason opener at Kansas City.
The third-year wideout was Cincinnati's second-leading receiver in 2013, behind A.J. Green.
"Obviously he's a huge part of what we do," Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson said. "We'll miss him 'til we get him back, but at the same time, I can't worry about it. We have good guys, good players, and it's always the next man up. We'll keep firing up the guys we have."
Jones had entered training camp as the No. 2 receiver on the depth chart, just ahead of Mohamed Sanu. With Jones having missed nearly all of training camp with an ankle issue for which he was cleared just this past Monday, Sanu has taken his snaps and reps alongside Green. Jones had been nagged by the ankle injury for some time despite practicing in organized team activities in the spring. He ultimately decided to rest the ankle at the start of camp.
"Nothing's changed," Lewis said. "Marvin's been out the whole camp. So we just have to move forward and let other guys step up and play. Marvin will be back soon."
The announcement came just before the Bengals participated in their lone off-campus practice of training camp, at West Carrollton High School, about an hour north of Cincinnati.
Last season, including the Bengals' playoff loss to San Diego, Jones totaled 59 catches for 842 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Bengals have not placed Jones under any injury-list designation. Because he has practiced this preseason, he cannot be placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of the season. He could be placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning he would have to miss the first eight games of the season. The Bengals placed a similar designation on receiver Andrew Hawkins last season after he suffered an ankle injury in the preseason.
If Jones is placed on IR with a designation to return and comes back for the ninth game, he will be returning in time to face the Browns in Cincinnati on Nov. 6, a Thursday night game.
Per league rules, the Bengals have until Sept. 2 to make a decision about placing Jones under that designation.
"I imagine we'll carry him on our roster," Lewis said, "but we don't have to make those determinations for three and a half more weeks."