Bengals Wednesday practice report

No longer under the league’s concussion protocol, cornerback Leon Hall was back at practice Wednesday, while right tackle Andre Smith (ankle) and linebacker Rey Maualuga (hamstring) also returned to work.

Hall and Smith sat out their first game of the year last Thursday against Cleveland, while Maualuga has missed the last four contests.

Hall was a full participant, while Maualuga and Smith were limited, along with running back Cedric Peerman (knee).

Despite the limited activity, Maualuga sounds as if he's ready to return to the field Sunday in New Orleans.

"If the (Cleveland) game was on Sunday instead of Thursday night, who knows? That’s how confident I was in my leg, but since it was a short week......," Maualuga said. "As far as this week, we’ll just leave it on the doctors and if they give me the okay I’ll be good to go."

Running back Giovani Bernard, who has missed two games with hip and clavicle injuries, and linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who has missed two games since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, did not practice, although Bernard did rehab work on the side.

Also sitting out were tight end Jermaine Gresham (thigh), safety Taylor Mays (foot), cornerback Terence Newman (knee) and guard/center Mike Pollak (knee).

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