Bengals K Mike Nugent injured his right calf practicing onside kicks during practice Wednesday. Cincinnati signed free agent K Josh Brown on Thursday.(AP Images)

The Bengals luck with health on Sundays has been the stuff of lottery winners this year. It's the practices they've needed to worry about.

Kicker Mike Nugent became the latest victim Wendesday when he injured his calf following through onside kicks during practice. The injury will keep him out for at least Sunday's game against Dallas and forced the Bengals to sign K Josh Brown following a tryout of other veterans.

Nugent hit 19 of 23 this year and made all 12 kicks from inside 40 yards. No time frame has been given for Nugent's return, but he was not placed on IR.

The list of Bengals who've gone down in practice now grows. WR Mohamed Sanu (IR), LB Thomas Howard (IR), Brandon Ghee (IR), RB Bernard Scott (out two months) and WR Andrew Hawkins (missed three weeks) all were injured in practice.

Brown enters as the answer for Nugent's injury as one of the top veterans a team could hope for at this point in the season. He spent the last four seasons of his nine-year career with St. Louis and his first five seasons in Seattle.

"I think they know the situation, Nuge is hurt and this is a week-to-week thing and they want the best fit for their guys right now," Brown said. "There's got to be somebody who can come in and just do it."

Brown hit 21 of 28 field goals last year for the Rams, including 14 from longer than 40 yards. Long snapper Clark Harris and holder Kevin Huber must quickly find a rhythm with the new addition before Sunday's game against Dallas.

"You just get out there and practice today and work with it and get as comfortable as possible," Huber said. "You only have a couple of days to work and get him as comfortable as we can. It's our job to work for him."

Clears the way for Cook: The Bengals waived backup center Jeff Faine in the Brown move which clears the way for C Kyle Cook to be activated from IR-Designated to Return.

Cook practiced full go for the first time on Wednesday, but doesn't know the plan for Sunday against Dallas. Undrafted rookie Trevor Robinson started and has done well during the four-game win streak where BenJarvus Green-Ellis topped 100 yards in three consecutive games.

"If my number is called whatever I can do to help the team," Cook said. "Whehter it's as a backup role, whether it's to come in and play, whether it's to give a good look in practice. Hey, whatever is asked is asked. I'll do it."

The possibility exists he could be rotated in for a small number of series, but Marvin Lewis indicated at earlier junctures in his rehab Cook would be eased into the process. His knowledge of the systems Pittsburgh and Baltimore run could come in handy the final two weeks of the season, so those two games would be the most likeliy aiming point for a return as a starter.

"I haven’t been told anything," Cook said. "I’m a player and not a coach."

Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates on Twitter at @CBSBengals.