For now, at least, there is an uneasy truce between the Cincinnati Bengals and second-round draft choice Lamont Thompson.

Thompson, a former Washington State standout, projected by the coaching staff as a starter immediately after the draft last month, will report Tuesday for the final seven days of the offseason program but likely only as a spectator.

"I've told him not to do anything that might result in injury," agent Mike Sullivan said. "I told him to be smart. He knows the kind of things that can get you hurt."

Thompson was a no-show at a weekend minicamp three weeks ago after Bengals officials declined to provide him the same written injury protection they gave to first-round choice Levi Jones. Such protection generally stipulates that a team will negotiate in good faith -- in essence, provide a rookie a "slotted" contract -- if he is injured before signing a deal.

Cincinnati management has maintained the injury protection is addressed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but most experts feel the CBA covers only the $225,000 minimum base salary for a rookie, and not his signing bonus. Bengals owner Mike Brown has said that the team has verbally committed to injury protection for Thompson, but his stance loses some steam since it has a written document with Jones.

The two sides are not close, either, in contract negotiations.

The absence of Thompson earlier this month forced defensive coordinator Mark Duffner to shuffle his secondary, moving veteran Cory Hall from strong safety to free safety, the position he played in 2001. But the preference remains for Hall to play strong safety and for Thompson to step right into the lineup at free safety.

Thompson has great size and range and recorded 24 interceptions in his college career.

"I'm sure it will be sort of a 'cram session' approach when I get there, and that's' fine with me," Thompson said. "I plan to pay close attention to everything going on out there. I would love to be on the field, but that's something out of my control, so I'll do whatever I can off the field to get ready for camp."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.