Bengals vs. Falcons: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

As part of a six-game preseason schedule for Thursday, the NFL returns with a vengeance. Well, maybe not a vengeance, but it feels like that when you've been without the game since February.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons will be the nationally televised game on the ledger and though it is just a preseason tilt, it is OK to be excited. Sure NFL fans have had the draft and even the Hall of Fame game, but Thursday is the first day with multiple NFL games in nine months.

That's a long time.

Because the Bengals are the featured team on HBO's Hard Knocks series, fans may be even more connected to the happenings in training camp. Here's how you can watch the action on the field:

Combined Practice

In preparation for the preseason opener, these two teams held a combined practice session. Other teams around the NFL did the same, but the Bengals-Falcons session received special attention because the actual game will be televised by ESPN.

One of the primary draws for the event was the chance to see all-world receivers A.J. Green of the Bengals and Julio Jones of the Falcons on the field, but that didn't happen.

The Falcons held Jones out of most activities and Green wasn't present, per NFL.com's Albert Greer.

While the team's did go head-to-head in some of the 11-on-11 drills, they were split in the individual workouts. One event of note was a "little bit of a dust up" between Bengals' Vontaze Burfict and the Falcons' Steven Jackson.

It seemed to register about a two on the fracas scale, but its preseason and we'll overreact over anything at this point.

Overall, nothing major came out of this hyped scrimmage, except a costly injury to the Falcons' O-Line.

Injuries

Falcons Have Right Tackle Issues

Atlanta doesn't have many issues on offense, but their right tackle situation is getting worrisome. Mike Johnson was expected to be the starter, but per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Johnson was carted off the practice field.

According to Canfora, team officials don't know when he'll return. Rookie undrafted free agent Ryan Schraeder was working with the starters by the end of practice.

The Falcons No. 1 priority will have to be protecting Matt Ryan, but this injury could complicate matters.

Absent Stars

Green has been ruled out of the first preseason game, per Marc Sessler of NFL.com. Per Sessler, Green tweaked the knee in a July 25 practice and the team is being cautious with him during the preseason.

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Jones, Sean Witherspoon and tight end Tony Gonzalez will miss the game as well. Weatherspoon is out indefinitely with a dislocated finger and Gonzalez is on leave to be with his son who is beginning tackle football.

Rookies, Newcomers and Position Battles to Watch

Bengals - Giovanni Bernard

Bernard is a shifty and explosive running back who could find himself as the Bengals' starter before the season is over. The incumbent BenJarvus Green-Ellis has the experience, but not the big-play ability Bernard has.

This is something to watch as the preseason progresses.

Bengals - James Harrison

What type of impact can Harrison make for the Bengals at 35 years old. He's part of a defensive line group that is aggressive and deep, so he should see a lot of one-on-one matchups on the outside.

If he can return to his 2008-11 form when he had 51.5 sacks, he'll be one of the biggest free-agent pickups of the season.

Falcons - Steven Jackson

Jackson is already one of the best running backs the league has seen in the last 10 years. Early indications from Falcons camp is that he is looking good. The team has been lining him up wide and in the backfield, per Pro Football Talk.

He could be set to have a big season statistically, as long as he avoids injury.

Prediction

Preseason isn't about wins and losses. That is especially the case for the opener. But for the sake of scratching my prediction itch, let's tab the Bengals as the winners here.

Being part of the Hard Knocks series and being a little less beat up at key positions may give them an edge.

Bengals win 24-14.

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