Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle D'Ante Smith is set to sit out the upcoming season due to a severe patellar tendon injury, as per a source cited by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The incident occurred during a joint practice with the Chicago Bears on Thursday, where Smith went down approximately ten minutes after running back Chris Evans suffered a similar injury.

The extent of Smith's injury is yet to be officially confirmed, pending the results of an upcoming MRI scan. The unfortunate back-to-back patellar tendon injuries have dealt a significant blow to the Bengals' offensive line depth ahead of the season.

Moreover, the absence of Smith adds to the team's injury concerns, as rookie Amarius Mims, the first-round pick this year, is expected to miss several weeks due to a strained pectoral muscle. Veteran Trent Brown, who initially replaced Mims, had to be replaced by Cody Ford during Thursday's practice due to back tightness, according to Bengals coach Zac Taylor.

In light of these setbacks, the Cincinnati Bengals are unlikely to field their starters in the upcoming preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. However, they will have a joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts next week, followed by their respective preseason finales on Thursday.

The loss of D'Ante Smith poses a significant challenge for the Bengals as they prepare for the upcoming season. The team will need to rely on their remaining offensive linemen and make strategic adjustments to ensure the protection of their quarterbacks and the success of their offensive plays.