"Antonio Bryant knows that the final decision on whether he plays a down for the Bengals is not up to him.

Although speculation swirls about the team possibly releasing the eighth-year NFL wide receiver, one thing Bryant does know is that he is making progress in rehabilitating his surgically repaired left knee.

"I've been on the field doing a couple things here and there," said Bryant, who was signed to a four-year, $28 million contract by the Bengals in March. "It's just a matter of timing. We're getting there. We're getting close."

Reports that the Bengals would reach in injury settlement with Bryant picked up some steam Thursday, when Newsday reported the team is set to release him. Agent Lamont Smith, did not return calls by the Enquirer but told Bengals.com he had not been contacted about an injury settlement.

The Bengals must cut their roster to 75 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday and have their 53-man roster set by Sept. 4.

Bryant has received $6.95 million from the Bengals in signing, roster and workout bonuses, and his base salary this season is $1.55 million. With this season being uncapped, there would be no ramifications to the team's salary cap if he were released.

"Whatever their decision is, that's the one that's made upstairs," Bryant said.

"That's not the one for me to make. My thing is to play football. Whenever I'm able to do that, I'll play to the best of my ability."

Bryant injured the knee last year during training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On Thursday he said he came back too quickly last year and should have backed off during offseason workouts this spring.

"I have never been hurt to the point where I couldn't play," Bryant said.

"That is why last year I fought through it and came back, didn't do the proper rehab. I am not pointing fingers and blaming anyone. ... I should have stopped at minicamp instead of pushing through the pain. When you compensate, you aggravate other things.""