Just two days after ending his holdout Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals rookie right tackle, broke his left foot at practice.

The first round draft pick suffered a small fracture in his foot while working out in a non-contact drill. It was just his third workout since he had signed his deal with the Bengals. His chances of landing a starting position this year was given another major setback.

Marvin Lewis, head coach for the Bengals, stated that the medical staff told him that the injury wouldn’t require surgery. He added that it was too soon to make any close predictions in terms of how long it would be before he would be able to return to the practice field but that it looked like he would miss a few weeks.

The Bengals drafted Smith as the sixth overall pick and expected that he would start at right tackle this year.

A protracted contract impasse has forced him into missing training camp as well as the first three games of the preseason. On Sunday he finally agree to a $21 million guaranteed four year contract and later that day worked out with the team in hopes of playing in the final game of the preseason against Indianapolis on Thursday.

For now the team will have Anthony Collins, second year lineman, at right tackle. Last year Collins was a fourth round pick and due to injuries was the starting right tackle in six games.

The offensive line has been overhauled during the off season. Cincinnati has made changes at both tackle positions and at center, trying to upgrade their offense which ranked last in the NFL in 2008.

The main priority is making sure Carson Palmer, the quarterback, is protected. He was hit on a frequent basis last year. Palmer’s nose was broken during the preseason, and during the regular season he tore a tendon and ligament in his passing elbow and was forced to miss 12 games.

During the first game of the preseason this year, Palmer sprained his left ankle and has had to miss the last two preseason games. On Tuesday he took snaps for the first time since the sprain with the starting offense.

Lewis said that Palmer looked remarkably improved and was moving better.

Palmer wants to play in the last game of the preseason. Lewis will make a final decision right before the game.

Lewis said that as they go forward they were going to play it out in terms of what would be best for Carson. He added that it was good to see Palmer getting back and involved with what the team was doing today and tomorrow and that the goal was having him ready for going full speed by Monday.