Rookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick continues to see his playing time increase both on defense and special teams.

Kirkpatrick suffered a knee injury prior to training camp, delaying the first-round pick’s debut until Week 9 against Denver. He played 11 snaps on special teams in that game and made his defensive debut the following week with 15 snaps against the Giants.

Sunday in Kansas City, he played 26 snaps (43 percent) on defense and 18 (64 percent) on special teams.

“I expect to get more and more,” Kirkpatrick said. “This was my third game in now, so it’s the third game into the preseason for me. Every week I’ve got to get better. Every week. I’m coming along, though. I feel confident and feel pretty happy with what they’re doing right now.”

Kirkpatrick finished with two tackles and made a stellar play on special teams filling in for Andrew Hawkins as the gunner on punt coverage. He made a highlight play on one punt, diving to down the ball inside the 5.

“The last 2-3 weeks he has played – what a joy,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. “To watch him play and get his opportunity has been great. This is what we envisioned for the guy. All his enthusiasm and ability has been great.

“The other secondary players, they know their responsibility of (playing with) a first-round pick,” Lewis continued. “They’ve done a good job of understanding it and helping him understand it and being inclusive of the group. It’s been a great thing.”

Cook’s calendar: Injured center Kyle Cook said the Bengals have set a date for his return, but he cannot say when it is.

Cook, who has been doing rehab drills on a side field since last week, did say the ankle feels as strong as it was before he injured it in the third preseason game against Green Bay.

“The ankle feels back to normal, but the big test is once you go out and test it and everything, how is it going to feel the next day,” Cook said. “I haven’t had any pain or soreness, which is what is keeping us on track for the return date. Hopefully sooner rather than later you guys will see me out there practicing.”

Jeff Faine, a 10-year veteran who was signed as a free agent after Cook went down, started the first seven games at center, while undrafted rookie Trevor Robinson has started the last three.

Rivalry revelry: The border war that is the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry extends to the Bengals locker room, where Michigan grad Leon Hall and Ohio State grad Nate Clements have adjoining lockers.

Clements was asked if it was tough having a locker next to a Michigan guy this week ahead of Saturday’s game.

“It’s not going to be tough for me at all,” Clements said. “You might want to ask him that.”

Asked if he was predicting a Bengals victory, Clements said, “Definitely. We’ve got a good thing going on. He knows.”

Injury report: Wide receiver Andrew Hawkins (knee) and tight end Richard Quinn (calf) did not practice Thursday. Cornerback Adam Jones (calf), who sat out Wednesday, was limited.

Faine (hamstring) and wide receiver Marvin Jones (knee) were limited for the second day in a row, while Reggie Nelson (hamstring) and Terence Newman (head) were full participants for the second day in a row.

Three Raiders did not practice Thursday: running backs Darren McFadden (ankle) and Mike Goodson (ankle) and defensive tackle Richard Seymour (knee/hamstring).