National Football League

Injury causing problems between Jermaine Gresham, Bengals

Published Dec. 14, 2014 9:18 p.m. ET

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Alex Marvez

Tight end Jermaine Gresham's toe injury has become a contentious issue for the Cincinnati Bengals.

A source told FOX Sports that the Bengals were expecting Gresham to play in Sunday's 30-0 victory over Cleveland. That sentiment was reinforced Sunday when Gresham "looked great running around" during a pre-game workout, the source said.

Gresham, though, was declared inactive to miss his first game of the season.

A source told FOX Sports NFL insider Mike Garafolo that Gresham will be visiting with a toe specialist Tuesday for a second opinion. Gresham was injured last week during practice.

Gresham is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

Gresham already has taken exception to the perception that he could have played but didn't. Gresham interrupted a live postgame interview that Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was conducting with the team's flagship radio station to confront game analyst Dave Lapham. Gresham accused Lapham of saying he "quit" during a pre-game segment.

Kevin Brock started in Gresham's place against Cleveland and had one catch for two yards. Tight end Tyler Eifert remains on Cincinnati's injured reserve list with a designation to return after hurting his elbow in the season-opener.

Gresham, 26, has played all five of his NFL seasons with the Bengals since being the team's 2010 first-round draft pick. Gresham had started Cincinnati's first 13 games this season and registered 50 catches for 378 yards and three touchdowns.

Cincinnati (9-4-1) hosts Denver (11-3) on December 22 in a game with playoff implications for both squads.

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