Coley Harvey, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Halloween revisited: Geno Atkins' past year

CINCINNATI -- It was a year ago Friday night that Geno Atkins suffered the injury that ended his 2013 season and began the long road to recovery that only now seems to be ending.

On Halloween Night in Miami Gardens, Florida, mere miles from Atkins' native Pembroke Pines, the Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle tore his ACL while chasing after Dolphins running back Lamar Miller as he cut back into the middle of the field. As Atkins and other Bengals converged for the tackle on the 4-yard gain, he became trapped underneath the pile. He took his helmet off instantly.

Atkins' season was over. Surgery was forthcoming. Only one thought could enter his mind: next year.

Since "next year" began nearly two months ago, Atkins hasn't been the same player he was before the injury. He's been less explosive off the line of scrimmage and hasn't been as productive statistically. His tackle numbers have been slightly down and his sack figures even lower.

But lately, he's given the Bengals a glimmer of hope in his future.

Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said Monday that he thought Atkins played his best game of the season last Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. He had four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble that came when he broke through the offensive line and forced the ball loose just after the running back had been handed it.

He was looking like the Atkins of old.

The sack was his first fully-credited sack of the season. He had a half-sack the game before against the Colts that was only awarded to him days after the game. One year ago Friday, playing in his ninth game of the 2013 season, Atkins already had six sacks.

It might be quite the endeavor to get Atkins back to where he was, but the Bengals are hoping he can build from his performances the last two weeks.

"He has the quickness and the penetration and the things that Geno does," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "The more opportunity we have to get him into passing situations, the more opportunities of plays he's going to be able to make as a pass-rusher."

^ Back to Top ^