CINCINNATI -- Flashback to May 2014 and the draft night that encompassed the second and third rounds.

Minutes had barely passed after the Cincinnati Bengals had used their third-round pick on defensive end Will Clarke before the comparisons began. On a phone call with Cincinnati-based reporters about his selection, it took only two questions before Clarke was asked how familiar he was with the then-recently departed Michael Johnson.

Clarke, who eventually would be handed Johnson's old number, admitted he didn't know much about him. Little did he know that a year later, he would not only get to know the old No. 93 quite well, but he would have to fill his shoes.

With Johnson out a month or slightly more with an MCL sprain suffered in Sunday afternoon's practice, Clarke suddenly has the biggest chance he's had yet to prove he belongs on the Bengals' defense.

"It's all on what the people say upstairs," Clarke said when asked about that Monday. "I'm just going to be ready."

In addition to Clarke's more regular appearance in the starting end rotation, Wallace Gilberry also will be receiving reps there similar to what he got last season while Johnson was playing in Tampa Bay. A 2009 Bengals draft pick, Johnson signed with the Buccaneeers in free agency in 2014 before returning to Cincinnati as a free agent this March.

His injury Sunday apparently looked worse than it ultimately will end up being.

"He cleared everybody's mind by being in good spirits after practice," cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick said. "I don't think it's a problem by him missing the first game. He'll be back and ready to go."

MCL sprains can take about six weeks to recover from. If that he does recover in that time period, it would put his return just in time for the season opener at Oakland. If he were to miss that game, it might simply be the product of him needing to go through one final week of conditioning to get back to football shape.

Much of the comparison between Johnson and Clarke hinges on similarities in their sizes. Johnson is 6-foot-7 and Clarke is 6-foot-6. Clarke also entered the NFL with a body frame that more closely resembled Johnson's lean build. After Clarke added 15-20 pounds this offseason, he traded the lean build for a little more power.

Clarke is hopeful in these next few weeks that he's able to demonstrate how beneficial having the added power will be.

"I feel I'm not getting displaced [by offensive linemen] as easily as I might have been last year," Clarke said.

Although Johnson might be out the next few weeks, his imprint still will be visible on the defense. Clarke said he's been listening closely to advice and guidance from Johnson since the veteran returned to Cincinnati. Some of Johnson's most sage advice has hinged on the half-man principle; that a pass-rusher should focus on using outside- and inside-leverage moves to get by blockers instead of straight bull rushes.

"Michael and Carlos [Dunlap], that's what their specialty is, pretty much," Clarke said. "I'm working pass-rush moves in that nature. It's just trying to help me with moves that would involve removing guys with my upper body, my hands and my technique and trying to implement the same thing that they do."

Though Johnson will reclaim his old job when he's healthy again, the experience Clarke will gain the next few weeks could prove invaluable.