Gresham inactive for playoff game

Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham is inactive for today's Wildcard game against the Indianapolis Colts due to a sore back.

Gresham went through a series of pregame workouts on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, but he grabbed his back a couple of times while doing blocking drills and then after a catching a couple of passes he fired the ball down in apparent disgust.

Gresham suffered the back injury last week against Pittsburgh, although he returned to the game and scored a touchdown.

It's the second time in four games Gresham has been inactive. On Dec. 14 in Cleveland, he complained of pain in his injured toe after pregame warmups and elected not to play.

Gresham is an unrestricted free agent after the season, which means he may have played his last game as a Bengal.

His absence leaves the offense thin in terms of receiving options with wide receivers A.J. Green (concussion) and James Wright (knee) also inactive.

Brandon Tate will start opposite Mohamed Sanu at receiver, while Kevin Brock will start at tight end.

The other Bengals inactives are quarterback AJ McCarron, cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris, tackle Tanner Hawkinson and defensive tackle Devon Still.

The Colts have injury issues of their own with starting offensive linemen Hugh Thornton and A.Q. Shipley out. Running back Trent Richardson, who was listed as questionable with illness, is active.

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