Cincinnati Bengals WR Andrew Hawkins Returns To Practice.

After spending the last two months going through rehab and conditioning following a preseason ankle injury, Cincinnati Bengals

July 28, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrew Hawkins (16) comes down with a pass during training camp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

receiver Andrew Hawkins finally returned to practice Wednesday afternoon.

It was the first time since Aug. 1 that he went through a workout with the rest of the team. He went through the full session.

Hawkins was placed on the injured reserve designated to return list five days before the season opener. Per IR rules, he was permitted to return to practice as early as last week, but he won’t be cleared to play in a game until next week. With his practice Wednesday, the Bengals have now entered a three week window during which they can practice Hawkins and have him not count against the 53-man roster.

While this was his first official practice, Hawkins did participate in a limited action with other receivers during Sunday’s pregame passing drills. Just before the Bengals took on the Detriot Lions, he was out running routes and catching passes along with the rest of the receiving line. It seemed he was focused on sticking his cuts and making sure his ankle was responding to speed movements.

The wideout suffered his injury on Aug. 1, when he was hurt during a practice drill.

Whenever Hawkins returns, whether next week at Miami(Thurs 10/31) or sometime after, he will be joining an already deep Bengals receiving core. The combination of AJ Green, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones, tight ends Tyler Eifet and  Jermaine Gresham and running back  Giovani Bernard a group that could have five or six 500yard receivers. Oh man this team has a lot of depth and talent.