I'm taking a flyer on him.
Oft-injured Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Perry, a potential big-player performer who has begun each of the past two seasons on the physically unable to perform list, returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since last November. The Bengals now have three weeks to evaluate his progress. Perry, the team's first-round choice in the 2004 draft, has undergone two surgeries to address a dislocated ankle suffered last Nov. 26 against the Cleveland Browns.
According to league rules governing PUP players, this is the final week in which they may begin practicing. The Bengals can elevate Perry to the active, 53-player roster at any point in the next three weeks. If he is not activated after three weeks, Perry will not be able to play this season.
Perry, 25, has great all-around ability and the kind of speed that the Cincinnati offense has lacked. But a series of injuries have limited the former Michigan star to only 22 appearances and three starts in three years.
In his 2004 rookie campaign, Perry suffered hamstring and abdominal injuries. A left ankle injury late in 2005 cut short that season and, because of the rehabilitation involved, he opened the 2006 season on the physically unable to perform list. Then last year, after being activated from PUP, his misfortunes continued when he suffered the dislocated ankle in his sixth appearance of the season.
A healthy Perry would be a boost for the Bengals, who rank 28th in the NFL in rushing, in part because starting tailback Rudi Johnson has suffered through injuries. An excellent receiver capable of breaking the occasional long run, Perry would also provide some versatility to the Bengals' backfield.
A Heisman Trophy finalist in 2003, and winner of the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top college running back that year, Perry was the 26th overall prospect chosen in the 2004 draft. For his NFL career, Perry has carried 73 times for 337 yards and no touchdowns, and has 63 receptions for 403 yards and two scores.
He had 51 catches in 2005, just four shy of the team record for a running back.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
