John Minchillo/Associated Press

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson was carted off during an Aug. 2 practice with an MCL strain, but he was able to return for the team's season opener.

The Bengals shared word of Johnson's status for the game against Oakland.

Johnson originally went down during a running drill. Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official website reported team doctors checked him for an ACL tear before taking him off the field and sending him for an MRI.

Coley Harvey of ESPN.com noted Johnson returned to practice on Aug. 26. He said the activity was the first the player had gone through in front of the media since his injury.

Richard Skinner of Local 12 passed along word of Johnson's participation in the team's Sept. 9 practice as he prepared for Week 1.

The former Georgia Tech star returned to the Bengals this offseason after a one-year stop with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He racked up 27 tackles and four sacks, going down as one of the worst signings of the 2014 season. The Bengals re-signed Johnson after Tampa released him in March. He is expected to start at right defensive end opposite Carlos Dunlap.

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