who's your mama out!

[icehole3]

Per ESPN NFL countdown

[Ox]

Looks like it's showtime for Cheech!

[alleycat]

Worse than we thought (and somewhat strange). From bengals.com:

Updated: 11:40 a.m.

After not practicing last week with a bruised heel, Houshmandzadeh went on the inactive list in a move that promoted Kelley Washington to the slot receiver on passing downs.

The Bengals defense also underwent a facelift because of injuries when rookies Rashad Jeanty _ at strong-side backer _ and Johnathan Joseph _ at right cornerback _ got the starts in place of David Pollack and Deltha O'Neal respectively.

Pollack (hamstring) and O'Neal (knee) were active, but have been hampered by nicks all preseason. After 37 games in the Canadian Football League, Jeanty is getting the start in his first NFL game. Joseph, the first-round pick out of South Carolina, gets the promotion from the nickel back position.

With the tarpaulin stretched across the Arrowhead Stadium field, Houshmandzadeh did some work on the sidelines before heading back into the locker room shaking his head.

That means Chris Henry gets his sixth NFL start after a controversial offseason in which he was arrested four times. But Henry emerged as the team's leading receiver during the preseason with 11 catches for 104 yards and two touchdwns.

Henry has also been hampered by injuries this preseason, still feeling the affects of the torn poster cruciate ligament in his knee from the playoffs. The Bengals receiving corps is suddenly thin, with Antonio Chatman (groin) also scratched.

Head coach Marvin Lewis offered a curious 45-man acvtive roster. Two of his seven linebackers (rookies Ahmad Brooks and A.J. Nicholson) were inactive as were two of his nine offensive linemen in center Eric Ghiaciuc and guard-tackle Scott Kooistra. Left guard Eric Steinbach could move to center if needed and rookie Andrew Whitworth could play left guard.

Also inactive were cornerback Greg Brooks and defensive end Frostee Rucker.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Lots of injuries.

#2 RB out, #2 WR out, #1 OLB and #1 CB banged up and not starting....#4 WR out...yeesh.

[Ox]

I know Shula, that tells you about the depth of this team doesn't it? That's a far cry from our Bengals of old..

[ArmyBengal]

Whoever said TJ would be missed today, was absolutely CORRECT !!!

WHODEY !!!

[HoosierCat]

Reggie Kelly and Tab did their jobs, tho. And Rudi and the o-line were in the groove. Henry had a couple grabs; I think I saw Kwash once.

Really, tho, we've been saying it for months: we needed the D to step up. They did. I heard Thornton's name multiple times, Justin was all over the place, I saw Tory, O'Neal, Jeanty all make plays, Simmons had a couple tough stops in the middle, big Sam was soaking up people in the middle, Madieu was in 12 different places at one, and even Jackson managed to keep a 20 yard gain into becoming anything longer. Geathers, Watson...hell, if I had to pick a MVP for this game I would be throwing darts.

Like I said elsewhere, team win. And I could not ask for anything more than that.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Reggie Kelly and Tab did their jobs, tho. And Rudi and the o-line were in the groove. Henry had a couple grabs; I think I saw Kwash once.

Really, tho, we've been saying it for months: we needed the D to step up. They did. I heard Thornton's name multiple times, Justin was all over the place, I saw Tory, O'Neal, Jeanty all make plays, Simmons had a couple tough stops in the middle, big Sam was soaking up people in the middle, Madieu was in 12 different places at one, and even Jackson managed to keep a 20 yard gain into becoming anything longer. Geathers, Watson...hell, if I had to pick a MVP for this game I would be throwing darts.

Like I said elsewhere, team win. And I could not ask for anything more than that.

I recall KW with one decent catch and one big time gator-arms that could have been picked. Can't remember when, but it must have been a few beers in. That's why he'll never be any kind of possession receiver.