Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga sprained his MCL on Sunday and is expected to be sidelined three to four weeks, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Monday.

For at least one week, he won't be the only Bengals defender to miss time. Cincinnati (6-2) officially ruled defensive back Taylor Mays out for Thursday night's game at Miami (3-4). He joined cornerback Leon Hall and defensive tackle Devon Still as players who will sit out Week 9. Maualuga was not formally listed as out on the injury report, but he was among those who did not practice.

Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga gets a ride off of the field after being injured in the second quarter against the New York Jets. Marc Lebryk/USA TODAY Sports

With 4:16 left in the second quarter, Maualuga shot through a hole to prevent a first-down run by the New York Jets' Chris Ivory. On the third-and-1, Maualuga got to Ivory a yard late, colliding with him at the end of a 2-yard run. A split second after impact was made, Maualuga's body seemed to go limp, causing trainers to race out.

After examining him near midfield for about three minutes, he was carted off, and a helmetless Maualuga waved to fans to let them know he was OK. Within minutes, it was determined Maualuga had a knee injury and a concussion.

The 26-year-old linebacker is the Bengals' second-leading tackler this season, with 51.

This was the second time in as many weeks that Maualuga has left a game. He suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of the Bengals' Week 7 victory at Detroit, but missed only one day of practice.

Mays left Sunday's game on the final play of the first half when he suffered a right shoulder injury. Hall and Still didn't play against the Jets after suffering injuries the week before at Detroit. Hall's Achilles tear has him out for the remainder of the season, even though the Bengals have not yet placed him on injured reserve.

ESPN.com Bengals reporter Coley Harvey contributed to this report.