27 Dre Kirkpatrick DB

Kirkpatrick (concussion) was a full participant at Friday's practice and is expected to play Sunday against the Lions.

Kirkpatrick has cleared the league's concussion protocol after missing the Bengals' past two games due to his head injury. He'll return to the starting lineup at cornerback across from William Jackson III in Week 16.

Kirkpatrick (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Kirkpatrick will be one of several injured defensive starters who will sit out Week 15, with his absence hurting the Bengals' chances of slowing down the Vikings' talented wideout tandem of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. Look for rookie William Jackson and Darqueze Dennard (knee) to serve as the Bengals' starting cornerbacks with Kirkpatrick unavailable.

Kirkpatrick (concussion) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice.

Kirkpatrick has yet to clear the league's protocol after suffering a concussion in Week 13. With fellow cornerback Darqueze Denard also absent from Wednesday's practice due to a knee issue, the Bengals could have a thin secondary for their Week 15 matchup with the Vikings.

Kirkpatrick (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bears, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Kirkpatrick is one of five Bengals starters already ruled out for Sunday's game, including fellow corner Adam Jones (groin). The absences of Jones and Kirkpatrick will leave Darqueze Dennard (knee), William Jackson and KeiVarae Russell as the team's only available cornerbacks.

Kirkpatrick was placed in the NFL's concussion protocol following Monday's 23-20 loss to the Steelers, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Though the Bengals received good news earlier Wednesday when starting free safety George Iloka had his one-game suspension overturned in an appeal, the team's secondary could still be in shambles in the Week 14 matchup with the Bears. In addition to Kirkpatrick, fellow cornerbacks Darqueze Dennard (knee) and Adam Jones (groin) exited Monday with injuries, while starting strong safety Shawn Williams (hamstring) missed his second straight game. The Bengals will simply have to wait and see if Kirkpatrick can clear the protocol by the weekend before his status for the game against the Bears is determined.