The Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy suspects it will be "very tough" for Jordan Shipley to hang onto a roster spot.

Coming off ACL surgery, Shipley has been lost in the training camp shuffle. With Brandon Tate listed as the starter and Armon Binns and fifth-round rookie Marvin Jones flashing over the past week, roster spots are getting dangerously thin. If Shipley is close to full health by the end of August, the Bengals ought to be able to get a late-round draft pick in a trade.

Jordan Shipley (ACL surgery) has been removed from the active/PUP list.

It means Shipley can't begin the regular season on the reserve/PUP, and should see extensive preseason action. The Bengals' own website had routinely called Shipley a candidate to begin the year on reserve/PUP. He was practicing in full pads Monday. Shipley is the favorite for Bengals' slot duties, but will likely compete with Andrew Hawkins and Mohamed Sanu.

Jordan Shipley (ACL surgery) opened training camp on active/PUP.

The Bengals' website has repeatedly called Shipley a candidate to stay on PUP into the regular season, costing him the first six games. Placement on active/PUP would be the first step in that process, although Shipley could also be activated at any point if he were medically cleared. Either way, the Bengals don't appear to be counting on Shipley to play a major role anytime soon.

The Bengals' website continues to promote the idea that slot WR Jordan Shipley could open the season on reserve/PUP.

Reserve/PUP would cost Shipley the season's first six games. Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson foresees Brandon Tate and Armon Binns competing to start at split end, opposite flanker A.J. Green. Andrew Hawkins and rookie Mohamed Sanu would then be in the slot mix. Reliable Cincy Enquirer beat reporter Joe Reedy has called Sanu the favorite to start. We'll know more in a few weeks.

Bengals.com believes slot WR Jordan Shipley (ACL surgery) is a candidate for the PUP list.

Per reporter Geoff Hobson, the Bengals feel they don't have to rush Shipley because of "(their) depth at receiver." Shipley recently admitted that he still felt "stiffness" in his surgically repaired left knee after previously talking up his recovery all offseason. He'll be a year removed from blowing out his knee in September. Aside from exceptionally deep PPR leagues, Shipley is off the fantasy radar.

Bengals slot receiver Jordan Shipley conceded Tuesday that he still feels "stiffness" in his surgically repaired left knee.

It's concerning for a player who relies on short-area quicks to get open in the slot. "There's still a little bit of stiffness, but nothing big," Shipley said. "I'm just kind of in the last phase of getting the speed back and all that."

Bengals WR Jordan Shipley (ACL surgery) still isn't 100 percent.

Shipley recently tweeted he had been cleared for full participation in OTAs, but that apparently wasn't the case. "Every week I feel better," Shipley said Tuesday. "Right now it is jumping, getting out of my breaks fast. That's the one thing I have to fine tune." Shipley is expected to begin the season as the Bengals' starting slot receiver.

WR Jordan Shipley (ACL surgery), LB Roddrick Muckelroy (Achilles surgery) and DT Pat Sims (ankle) are all participating in Bengals OTAs.

Shipley was cleared for full participation earlier this month, but Muckelroy is believed to be limited. Sims tore ligaments in his ankle last December. Shipley is already penciled in as the Bengals' slot receiver, but would do well to have a strong and productive preseason after missing all but two games in 2011.

Bengals WR Jordan Shipley (ACL surgery) has been cleared for full participation in OTAs.

Shipley tore his left ACL on September 18, 2011. While some players don't get full explosion back for a full year, the "good news" for Shipley is that his knee ligament tear occurred so early last season. As a rookie in 2010, Shipley caught 52 passes for 600 yards and three touchdowns. With A.J. Green since added to the fold, Shipley would do well to get back to those numbers in 2012.

WR Jordan Shipley (torn ACL) is hoping to participate in the Bengals' May round of OTAs.

"I'm planning on doing some stuff but it depends on what they want me to do," Shipley said. "If it was up to me I would be out there." Penciled in as the Bengals' slot receiver, Shipley has guaranteed he'll be ready for training camp.

Bengals WR Jordan Shipley (torn ACL) is expected to be ready for training camp.

Shipley still doesn't have a firm return date, but has been targeting May for a return to football activities. He will be a year removed from tearing his ACL in September. The Cincinnati Enquirer expects Shipley to be the Bengals' slot receiver in 2012.

The Cincinnati Enquirer expects Jordan Shipley (torn ACL) to be the Bengals' slot receiver in 2012.

The Enquirer also believes free agents Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell may both be allowed to walk. Shipley didn't appear to be a fit for OC Jay Gruden's offense before blowing out his knee in Week 2, but will apparently get a second chance next season. Aiming for a May return to football activities, Shipley notched 52 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie in 2010.

Jordan Shipley (torn ACL) is aiming to return to football activities in May.

The September ACL surgery was the second in Shipley's playing career, though the first was to his other knee. His 2012 role is up in the air, as Andre Caldwell was already pushing him for playing time before the injury.

Bengals placed WR Jordan Shipley (torn ACL) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Shipley suffered the injury on a low hit from Broncos CB Cassius Vaughn in Week 2's loss. The Bengals' slot receiver drew five targets in his first two games, catching four passes for 14 yards. Andre Caldwell took his place in the slot on Sunday and out-produced him, catching three passes for 27 yards and a score. Caldwell is unlikely to become a fantasy factor in his fourth season.

Jordan Shipley left Sunday's game against the Broncos with an undisclosed injury.

Shipley went to turn a short catch upfield and got chopped down on a low hit by Cassius Vaughn. The slot receiver had to be helped off the field and into the locker room. Andre Caldwell is likely to finish out the game as the No. 3 receiver.

Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden suggested that Jordan Shipley may have been hesistant to go over the middle after returning from a mid-season concussion last year.

"He's got to be Wes Welker-like: find holes, get open and take punishment," said Gruden. "He's had a concussion issue and some injuries that, hopefully, he can fight through and understand those are flukes. They don't happen all the time. You can still go across the middle and make the tough catch." It's worth noting that Shipley's season-highs in receptions (6) and yards (131) came the week after he returned from the concussion.

Jordan Shipley led the Bengals with five receptions for 38 yards against the Jets in Week 12.

Shipley hauled in a 5-yard touchdown one play after Chad Ochocinco's own 5-yard score was disallowed on replay. As usual, the majority of his eight targets came with the Bengals trailing. He's not worthy of a waiver pickup heading into the Saints game in Week 13.

Jordan Shipley led the Bengals with five receptions and 71 yards against the Bills in Week 11.

As is often the case, Shipley was ignored until the Bengals began to fall behind. Three of his catches and seven of this team-leading nine targets came late in the game after the Bills roared ahead. Shipley is a fine prospect, but he can't be trusted on a weekly basis.

Jordan Shipley caught four passes for 47 yards in the team's Week 9 loss to Pittsburgh.

Shipley let a catchable ball fall to the ground to end the team's improbable comeback attempt. His seven targets tied for second on the team, but considering how often the Bengals went three wide you'd figure he saw his ceiling reached. There just won't be enough balls thrown his way on a consistent basis for him to be any more than a fringe bench player outside of deep leagues.

Jordan Shipley managed just 28 yards on three receptions against the Dolphins in Week 8.

Without the three-receiver sets that go with comeback mode, Shipley's role was limited this week. He was targeted six times compared to eight for Chad Ochocinco and 11 for Terrell Owens. Shipley is still unworthy of a roster spot in all but deep leagues.