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Latest Bengals Player Notes

Nov 19 2009 - Jeremi Johnson
FB Jeremi Johnson had full participation despite being listed with a chest injury. He is expected to be in the starting lineup against Oakland.

Nov 19 2009 - Johnathan Joseph
CB Johnathan Joseph was limited in Thursday's practice with a nagging foot injury, but he is expected to play against the Raiders.

Nov 19 2009 - Evan Mathis
OG Evan Mathis, who missed Wednesday's practice, was limited in Thursday's practice with an ankle injury. He remains doubtful for Sunday with Nate Livings getting the start.

Nov 19 2009 - Laveranues Coles
WR Laveranues Coles (head) was listed as having limited participation in practice. He is probable for Sunday's game at Oakland.

Nov 19 2009 - Keith Rivers
LB Keith Rivers missed his fifth straight practice due to a calf injury. He is unlikely to play on Sunday against Oakland with Brandon Johnson getting the start.

Nov 19 2009 - Cedric Benson
RB Cedric Benson did not practice for a second straight day, meaning that it is unlikely he will play on Sunday at Oakland. That means Larry Johnson's timetable for being somewhat comfortable with the playbook continues to be accelerated. "It's a new offense and they have to get comfortable with trusting me to step in there," said Johnson, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday. "The plays are the same handing off and right now the exchange has been pretty good between Carson and myself."

Nov 18 2009 - Chris Henry
WR Chris Henry will be in a cast for a total of 10 weeks after breaking his arm Nov. 8 in the win against Baltimore. He said that he knew the arm was broken before he hit the ground. Henry did end up making a 20-yard reception on the play.

Nov 18 2009 - Larry Johnson
RB Larry Johnson had his first official practice with the team on Wednesday while Cedric Benson did not practice as he tries to recover from his hip flexor injury. If Benson were able to play, Johnson will be inactive. But if Benson can't go, Johnson could be called upon and would be part of a running back by committee approach with Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard getting the majority of the carries.

Nov 18 2009 - Cedric Benson
RB Cedric Benson did not practice Wednesday as he tries to recover from his hip flexor injury. It is likely that Benson might not play in Sunday's game at Oakland and that Larry Johnson will see his first action with the Bengals. The biggest indication of Benson's status for Oakland will be Thursday's practice. If Benson is unable to go, it's all but certain he will be out, since players who don't practice on Wednesday and Thursday usually do not play. That will give Johnson three practices and five days to get ready.

Nov 18 2009 - Evan Mathis
OG Evan Mathis did not practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury suffered Nov. 8 against Baltimore. He is unlikely to play this week.

Nov 18 2009 - Keith Rivers
LB Keith Rivers did not practice Wednesday because of a calf injury suffered Nov. 8 against Baltimore. He is unlikely to play this week.

Nov 18 2009 - Jeremi Johnson
FB Jeremi Johnson had full participation in practice Wednesday. He is listed with a chest injury but he is expected to play this week.

Nov 18 2009 - Johnathan Joseph
CB Johnathan Joseph was limited in practice Wednesday because of a nagging leg injury, but he is expected to play this week.

Nov 18 2009 - Chris Crocker
FS Chris Crocker did not practice Wednesday because of a lower leg injury suffered Sunday against Pittsburgh, but he is expected to play this week.

Nov 17 2009 - Brannon Condren
DB Brannon Condren signed with the Bengals. He had a tryout with the team last month.

Nov 17 2009 - Evan Mathis
OG Evan Mathis might be able to return to the lineup this week after missing last week's game at Pittsburgh with an ankle injury.

Nov 17 2009 - Michael Johnson
DE Michael Johnson continues to see increased snaps in base packages.

Nov 17 2009 - Leon Hall
CB Leon Hall might be limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to an elbow injury.

Nov 17 2009 - Jonathan Fanene
DE Jonathan Fanene has 3.5 sacks since moving into a starting role when Antwan Odom was lost for the season with an Achilles injury.DE Jonathan Fanene has 3.5 sacks since moving into a starting role when Antwan Odom was lost for the season with an Achilles injury.

Nov 17 2009 - Laveranues Coles
WR Laveranues Coles has 33 receptions for 513 yards and a touchdown in seven career meetings against the Raiders.

Nov 17 2009 - Chad Ochocinco
WR Chad Ochocinco has 13 catches for 234 yards in two games against Oakland.

Nov 17 2009 - Jeremi Johnson
FB Jeremi Johnson will continue to be evaluated for a chest injury suffered two weeks ago.

Nov 17 2009 - Bernard Scott
RB Bernard Scott has moved into the primary kick return role for the rest of the season. He averaged 41.2 yards on five returns, including a 96-yard touchdown on his first return. Scott is also up for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award.

Nov 17 2009 - Carson Palmer
QB Carson Palmer has only one career start against the Raiders, which happened in 2006. Palmer was 20 of 28 for 297 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in a 27-10 win over Oakland.

Nov 17 2009 - Larry Johnson
RB Larry Johnson is looking to change a lot of perceptions about him as a football player and a person. He will get to do so for an organization that prides itself on giving second chances. Marvin Lewis' team of castoffs added one more on Tuesday as Johnson agreed to a one-year contract with the team. The contract is for the veteran's minimum, which would be $306,764.43 for the remaining seven games. To make room for Johnson, the team released defensive tackle Orien Harris. "I'm excited about what our guys can do, but with Larry, we have a very accomplished player with great abilities and tools," Lewis said. "A very smart player and an opportunity for him to do what he can to help us win games over the next seven games if we give him the opportunity and get his career back on court." Johnson, who turns 30 on Thursday, was 75 yards short of passing Priest Holmes as Kansas City's all-time leading rusher. In seven games, he had 377 yards on 132 carries and a 2.9 yards per carry average. Since setting an NFL record with 416 carries and a team-record 1,789 yards (which was his second straight 1,700-yard season) in 2006, Johnson has been on a steady decline. But he will now be given the chance to see if he still has something left. "It's been frustrating, just trying to get things turned around," said Johnson of the last couple seasons. "And it's kind of hard when you're switching coaches and switching philosophies it seems like every other year, so it was difficult to try to get going and get into a rhythm and try to turn this whole thing around. I think for me, it worked out for the best. It's just great for me to be here and start a new relationship with new team members." Lewis did not say if Johnson would be ready for Sunday's game at Oakland, but a lot of that depends on the health of Cedric Benson, who missed most of last Sunday's 18-12 win at Pittsburgh with a hip flexor strain. But if Benson did not go, Lewis thought Johnson's adjustment might be easier

Nov 17 2009 - Larry Johnson
RB Larry Johnson signed a one-year deal with the Bengals on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com's John Clayton. Coach Marvin Lewis alluded to possibly bringing Johnson on board Monday. "He would be an insurance policy if something would happen to our guys, where he would have a chance to be active," Lewis said of Johnson. "I can't foresee him being active when he was initially here, if this happens. That's what I told him. I had an opportunity to visit with Cedric (Benson), and it doesn't affect him, zero. Obviously this was already underway last week, so Ced coming out of the (Pittsburgh) game had no affect on this thing." Benson left last Sunday's game with a sore abductor muscle, but the injury isn't considered serious.

Nov 16 2009 - Chinedum Ndukwe
SS Chinedum Ndukwe had seven tackles, but a pass interference call (47 yards) did set up a Jeff Reed field goal late in the second quarter.

Nov 16 2009 - Keith Rivers
LB Keith Rivers could miss his second straight game with a calf injury.

Nov 16 2009 - Chris Crocker
FS Chris Crocker might get some rest on Wednesday and Thursday for his lower legs. He kept coming in and out of the Pittsburgh game with cramps and a calf.

Nov 16 2009 - Jeremi Johnson
FB Jeremi Johnson continues to struggle with a chest injury but should be ready for the Oakland game.

Nov 16 2009 - Kyle Cook
C Kyle Cook suffered a mild concussion during the game at Pittsburgh. He will be evaluated Wednesday and should be good to go.

Nov 16 2009 - Evan Mathis
OG Evan Mathis could play on Sunday at Oakland after missing the game in Pittsburgh with an ankle injury.

Nov 16 2009 - Bernard Scott
RB Bernard Scott's 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during the first quarter also featured a great individual effort from Quan Cosby, who made three huge blocks downfield. "In my 13 years in the NFL that's the single biggest effort play I've seen," special teams coach Darrin Simmons said. "He blocked a guy coming down the field first and then he's behind the play and chases everyone down and almost bypasses everyone to a great block on a safety and then peels back and blocks somebody right at the end." Scott replaced Andre Caldwell as the primary kick returner and averaged 41.2 yards on five returns.

Nov 16 2009 - Cedric Benson
RB Cedric Benson (abductor strain) said his injury is not serious and that he could be available for this week's game at Oakland. But Benson is expected to be limited in practices with the final decision being made close to game time. "I had an opportunity to visit with Cedric, and it doesn't affect him -- zero," coach Marvin Lewis said. "Obviously this was already underway last week, so Ced in the game had no affect on this thing." Lewis continued to stress that Larry Johnson's role would be as the fourth running back, which would mainly be scout team work along with special teams. It would also mean that he would be a game-day inactive since the Bengals suit up only three running backs. If Benson's injury would become more serious or chronic, Johnson would be in line to get a bigger role.

Nov 16 2009 - Larry Johnson
RB Larry Johnson, who turns 30 on Thursday, is expected to sign with the Bengals. He was released by Kansas City last Monday. He was 75 yards short of passing Priest Holmes as the franchise's all-time leading rusher. In seven games, he had 377 yards on 132 carries. But Johnson had repeated off-field incidents during his 6� seasons there. "One of the things I told Larry was we would judge him on his future and not on his past. We would judge him from that way forward," coach Marvin Lewis said. "I told Ced that I think you can help him with that. You could validate with that." Only if if Cedric Benson's injury would become more serious or chronic, would Johnson, a likely game-day inactive, be in line to get a bigger role.

Nov 15 2009 - Frostee Rucker
DE Frostee Rucker made his first career interception and returned it deep into Steelers territory to set up the first of Shayne Graham's four field goals.

Nov 15 2009 - Jonathan Fanene
DE Johnathan Fanene had two sacks Sunday, which gives him five for the season.

Nov 15 2009 - Laveranues Coles
WR Laveranues Coles finished with five catches for 67 yards Sunday, the second straight week he has led the team in receiving.

Nov 13 2009 - Roy Williams
SS Roy Williams (forearm) was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Nov 13 2009 - Maurice Purify
WR Maurice Purify was signed to the Bengals' active roster. He could also get the call over Jerome Simpson for the fourth receiver spot. Carson Palmer has endorsed Purify. "Everybody takes their own time or their own process to get to where they need to get on the field and he's found a way to do it faster and done a better job," said Palmer of Purify. "Not that Jerome can't do it. Jerome will be out there at some point. But this might be something that makes him realize I had my opportunity and I didn't take advantage of it. They gave it to him so I better be ready for my opportunity and something that pushes him more."

Nov 12 2009 - Cedric Benson
HB Cedric Benson had full participation in practice after getting a day with other veterans to rest on Wednesday.

Nov 12 2009 - Jeremi Johnson
FB Jeremi Johnson had limited practice due to a chest injury after not practicing on Wednesday. He should be able to play on Sunday.

Nov 12 2009 - Evan Mathis
OG Evan Mathis did not practice on Thursday due to an ankle injury. He is doubtful for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh which means that Nate Livings will get the start.

Nov 12 2009 - Keith Rivers
LB Keith Rivers did not practice on Thursday as he tries to recover from a calf injury. It looks like he will be unable to go and that Brandon Johnson will get the start.

Nov 12 2009 - Roy Williams
SS Roy Williams did not practice Thursday due to his forearm injury. He is doubtful for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh which would make him inactive for five of the last six games.

Nov 12 2009 - Maurice Purify
WR Maurice Purify could be promoted from the practice squad before Saturday, when the team leaves for Pittsburgh. If that happens, he could also get the call over Jerome Simpson for the fourth receiver spot. Carson Palmer has endorsed Purify. "Everybody takes their own time or their own process to get to where they need to get on the field and he's found a way to do it faster and done a better job," said Palmer of Purify. "Not that Jerome can't do it. Jerome will be out there at some point. But this might be something that makes him realize I had my opportunity and I didn't take advantage of it. They gave it to him so I better be ready for my opportunity and something that pushes him more."

Nov 12 2009 - Larry Johnson
RB Larry Johnson was evaluated for two days, but the Texans decided not to pursue him even though their running game ranks 27th with an average of 90.8 yards a game. Team chemistry is important to owner Bob McNair, GM Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak. Johnson has too many off-the-field issues and has been so much of a distraction they didn't want to take a chance on him.

Nov 11 2009 - Larry Johnson
RB Larry Johnson was evaluated by the Houston Texans for two days, but the Texans decided not to pursue him even though their running game ranks 27th with an average of 90.8 yards a game. Team chemistry is important to owner Bob McNair, GM Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak. Johnson has too many off-field issues and has been so much of a distraction they didn't want to take a chance on him.

Nov 11 2009 - Maurice Purify
WRs Maurice Purify and Jerome Simpson will get their chance to step in and be the fourth receiver now that Chris Henry out for the season with a broken forearm, Purify is still on the practice squad, but a move up to the 53-man roster might be imminent this week with only four receivers (Quan Cosby is listed as receiver but is more of a punt returner).

Nov 11 2009 - Jerome Simpson
WRs Jerome Simpson and Maurice Purify will get their chance to step in and be the fourth receiver now that Chris Henry out for the season with a broken forearm, Purify is still on the practice squad, but a move up to the 53-man roster might be imminent this week with only four receivers (Quan Cosby is listed as receiver but is more of a punt returner).