role yet, left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. Its good to

CLEVELAND -- Indians closer Chris Perez wants to focus on returning from his injured right shoulder and not his recent legal issues. Perez, speaking to reporters for the first time since being charged with misdemeanour drug possession after marijuana was mailed to his home earlier this month, took no questions about the incident prior to Saturdays game against Washington. Perez and his wife, Melaine, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The two-time All-Star is on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder. He will begin a minor league rehab assignment Sunday and could rejoin the Indians next week. Asked about his frame of mind, Perez said, "I want to get back to the team. I want to do my job well. I dont want to come back from the rehab and not to come back just to come back. I want to come back and be able to be me and help our team accomplish our goals." Indians manager Terry Francona is supporting Perez. "Ive talked to him at length and am very comfortable hell be just fine and hes in a good place," Francona said. Perez, who hasnt appeared in a game since blowing a save against Boston on May 26, has thrown two bullpen sessions and is scheduled to pitch one inning for Class A Lake County on Sunday. He isnt sure if he will make more than one rehab appearance. "Well see how it goes," Perez said. "If I threw like I did (Friday), Ill probably need another appearance. I wasnt very sharp. I felt like my first appearance in spring training." Perez inherited a three-run lead against Boston in his last major league outing, but struggled and couldnt finish the ninth inning. He was pulled after throwing a warmup pitch to the backstop. The Indians dropped a 6-5 decision and Perez was placed on the 15-day disabled list the following day. "I told them I could pitch that day," Perez said. "I warmed up. It wasnt happening. I tried to pitch through it." Perez is 2-1 with six saves and a 4.32 ERA in 17 appearances. An arraignment has been set in suburban Rocky River Municipal Court for June 19. Police said they were tipped off by postal inspectors to suspicious packages mailed to the Perez home and arranged a delivery under surveillance on June 4. Authorities say Melanie Perez whose maiden name is Baum, told the undercover officer delivering the packages that they were intended for her dog, named Brody. The package was addressed to Brody Baum. Under the drug agreement between Major League Baseball and its players association, marijuana offences generally result with the player undergoing a treatment program rather than discipline.Ken Boyer Jersey . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. Vince Coleman Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/164t-jose-martinez-jersey-cardinals.html .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Dexter Fowler Cardinals Jersey . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Daniel Ponce de Leon Jersey . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama.CINCINNATI -- A lot has been made of Andy Daltons struggles in the past few games -- sacks, turnovers, passes batted down.One of the contributing factors is the Bengals inability to run the ball, which puts the onus on the quarterback.And if they dont get a lot more out of the running game, the quarterback is going to be a target for the rest of their lost season.The Bengals (3-7-1) are on pace to have their least-productive season with the run since 2010, which stands as a recent reference point for bad Cincinnati running games.Cedric Benson ran for 1,111 yards, but nobody else contributed consistently as the offense revolved around receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens.The Bengals finished 4-12 in that season, and it feels as if theyre running in place again.We know how to do our jobs, running back Jeremy Hill said. We just need to execute better, especially in the running game.The Bengals offense has favored the pass under first-year coordinator Ken Zampese. Dalton has thrown at least 40 passes in five games -- he did that only once in each of the past two seasons. His career high is six games with 40-plus passes in 2013, and hes got plenty of time to top that mark.By contrast, the Bengals are on pace for 422 runs this season, which would be their fewest since 2008.Cincinnati has been held under 100 yards rushing in seven of its 11 games. During a 19-14 loss in Baltimore on Sunday, the Bengals managed only 64 yards rushing -- 15 of them on Daltons scrambles. Rex Burkhead was their leading rusher with 29 yards on five carries, while Hill managed only 21 yards on 12 carries.It wont get any easier down the stretch. Multifaceted running back Giovani Bernard tore his lefft ACL two weeks ago.ddddddddddddReceiver A.J. Green is sidelined indefinitely with a strained right hamstring, so opponents dont need to fear the passing game as much.The Bengals host the Eagles (5-6) on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Philadelphias defense is ranked 17th against the run and has held three of its past four opponents to 74 yards or fewer on the ground.Burkhead, a fourth-year player, moved into a bigger role when Bernard got hurt. He carried only 13 times in his first three seasons, but will get the ball more regularly the rest of the way.Rex is capable of doing any role we ask him to, Zampese said. So its easy just to put him in there and let him have his opportunities like we did in that game.Burkhead has been primarily a special teams player the past two seasons.Hes a guy that has flashed in practice and hasnt had a role yet, left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. Its good to see him in there getting some plays.Game notesCB Tony McRae was signed to the practice squad. McRae played in all four preseason games with Cincinnati and was on the practice squad for one week before being released. ... Green wasnt on the field for any of the Bengals workouts on Wednesday as he gets treatment for the hamstring injury. Backup QB AJ McCarron sat out practice with a stiff neck. ... Nine players were limited in practice, including WR Brandon LaFell (knee), S Shawn Williams (hamstring), LS Clark Harris (groin) and TEs Tyler Kroft (concussion) and C.J. Uzomah (calf).---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '