DaytonDailyNews.com

(Dayton Daily News Bengals' beat writer Chick Ludwig was among a group of reporters who interviewed injured tailback Chris Perry in the locker room on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007. The following is a transcript of the interview:)

Q. How it's going?

A. "It's going well."

Q. What was your reaction when Kenny Irons got hurt?

A. "It's like, 'Damn. He didn't even get to start.' He got stopped before he got started. It stinks."

Q. Did it bring back memories?

A. "It didn't have to bring back memories. I'm hurt right now."

Q. Was your injury a dislocated ankle?

A. "Whatever (the coaches) told you it was."

Q. It looks like they'll put you on the PUP list. Can you be back in six weeks?

A. "I would hope so. Depends on how it comes. It feels all right. They don't want me talking about it. You know how that goes."

Q. What do you hope happens?

A. "My hope is to be back when I'm healthy."

Q. Where have you been rehabbing?

A. "It was in Atlanta at Emory University."

Q. What is the state of your rehab right now?

A. "It's ongoing."

Q. How close or how far are you away from playing?

A. "I don't know. They (the coaches) could probably tell you before I could."

Q. Could you help this team?

A. "Yeah, I could. I'll try to get healthy. I'm doing all right. That's about as much as they'd probably want me to say. I don't think they want to hear too much from me right now."

Q. Does the injury scare you?

A. "No. If I was scared, then I wouldn't be doing it. There would be no reason to."

Q. How frustrating is it?

A. "You can't put a measure on how frustrating it is. Never been hurt in college and come here and it seems like the only thing I can do is get hurt."

Q. Do you think you'll come back as good as new?

A. "I'm positive of it. It's just going to take time. How long? I don't know."

Q. You said last year you felt like you've got everything but the last number in the lottery. Do you feel the same now?

A. "Yeah. As a matter of fact, it's like they said, 'You won the lottery.' Then they call you and say, 'Nah, there's been a glitch in the system. You didn't get it.' It's a little bit worse this time, but it's the same deal."

Q. They say things happen for a reason.

A. "There HAS to be a reason."