Health for Sunday's Opener

[HoosierCat]

The latest from Hobs...

Defensive tackle Sam Adams (knee) returned to practice Friday after missing the first two days of practice this week, just as he did last week. But wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (heel) didn't work early in practice and it appears he has missed all three days again. That happened last week and he was inactive. Left tackle Levi Jones (ankle) came on the field dressed early in practice.

[Kazkal]

Washington stays active probbley till chatman is healthy .... if chatman doesn't get healthy soon though I think Kdub will get nod over him

The Steelers appear to be pushing Ben to play against Jacksonville. The Jags have a beat-up D-Line... so they might be doing it to get him some confidence before a game they view as a must-win against Cincy.

my understanding is they wanna get the rust off vs jags sense bengals game is more importent

[HoosierCat]

Levi downgraded to questionable

[membengal]

Housh too. Makes me nervous. Would like to get the offense healthy, and soon, but it apparently won't be this week. Glad the bye week is early this year...

[Casey]

Housh might sit again. Bengals.com mentions the thought of sitting him to prepare for Pittsburgh... and the same goes for Levi. Whitworth should be able to hold down the fort against the Browns.

You never want to give up a necessary win in favor of one next week... and with a tough schedule, that makes games against the Browns that much more necessary. But I also think it's pretty evident we can beat the Browns without Housh and Levi.

I saw that on the Bengals site as well and honestly, it kind of worries me. I know this is the Browns, but this has the makings of a "trap game" if there ever was one. You can't look past any opponent in the NFL and the Browns are not going to come into Cincy and just roll over...this is probably their biggest game of the year. This is still a division game and all division games are important. If these guys are healthy enough to play, they need to be out there getting reps if for no other reason.

[walshfan]

Housh too. Makes me nervous. Would like to get the offense healthy, and soon, but it apparently won't be this week. Glad the bye week is early this year...

Whitworth played a few series agasinst the Chiefs and held up well....no worries

[HoosierCat]

Final IR for the game...

http://www.bengals.com/team/InjuryReport.asp

Chatman and Fingers are officially ruled out. Sounds like Rucker, Adams and O'Neal will at least be available, tho. With no practice time for Levi and TJ I'd bet on them being out.

Start Whitworth? Maybe. They might also slide Steiny over. No offense to Whitworth but I kinda like that idea better.

Looking at the Browns, I'd say McCutcheon isn't going to go and probably not Russel either. And it has to hurt that two key guys show up dinged Friday in McGinist and Pool. I expect both too play, tho.

[Kazkal]

Brownies are dancing about levi being out

Final IR for the game...

http://www.bengals.com/team/InjuryReport.asp

Chatman and Fingers are officially ruled out. Sounds like Rucker, Adams and O'Neal will at least be available, tho. With no practice time for Levi and TJ I'd bet on them being out.

Start Whitworth? Maybe. They might also slide Steiny over. No offense to Whitworth but I kinda like that idea better.

Looking at the Browns, I'd say McCutcheon isn't going to go and probably not Russel either. And it has to hurt that two key guys show up dinged Friday in McGinist and Pool. I expect both too play, tho.

Aye might as well get whitworth experiance at guard to sense be his job next year.

[TJJackson]

All the more reason we need to extend Steinbach - he can play center and LT nearly equally.....not as well as his natural spot of LG, but well

[HoosierCat]

All the more reason we need to extend Steinbach - he can play center and LT nearly equally.....not as well as his natural spot of LG, but well

It's a nice thought but he is likely gone. How may poor o-lines did we see in week 1? Tampa? Oakland? KC? etc. He could be a starting tackle for any of those teams, and probably more. I dont expect him to get signed on as such, but some team with a little less invested on the offensive side of the ball will give him what he wants just because of that versatility. Cincy probably drops a transition tag on him just so they retain the option to match, but in the end I doubt they pull the trigger.

[bengalboomer7]

All the more reason we need to extend Steinbach - he can play center and LT nearly equally.....not as well as his natural spot of LG, but well

It's a nice thought but he is likely gone. How may poor o-lines did we see in week 1? Tampa? Oakland? KC? etc. He could be a starting tackle for any of those teams, and probably more. I dont expect him to get signed on as such, but some team with a little less invested on the offensive side of the ball will give him what he wants just because of that versatility. Cincy probably drops a transition tag on him just so they retain the option to match, but in the end I doubt they pull the trigger.

WHile I don't want the bengals to franchise him, anything less and he's gone with the wind.

[scott91575]

All the more reason we need to extend Steinbach - he can play center and LT nearly equally.....not as well as his natural spot of LG, but well

It's a nice thought but he is likely gone. How may poor o-lines did we see in week 1? Tampa? Oakland? KC? etc. He could be a starting tackle for any of those teams, and probably more. I dont expect him to get signed on as such, but some team with a little less invested on the offensive side of the ball will give him what he wants just because of that versatility. Cincy probably drops a transition tag on him just so they retain the option to match, but in the end I doubt they pull the trigger.

WHile I don't want the bengals to franchise him, anything less and he's gone with the wind.

Who else would they franchise, and with the cap space why not? Who else is there, Justin Smith? You can sign him and franchise Stieny. No major free agent adds, but this team is young. James salary drops off, and Joseph starts next year. Unless they have their eyes on a big FA, why not franchise him.

[Kazkal]

I wonder if any team will mybe sign steinbach as a LT rather then pulling guard.

All the more reason we need to extend Steinbach - he can play center and LT nearly equally.....not as well as his natural spot of LG, but well

It's a nice thought but he is likely gone. How may poor o-lines did we see in week 1? Tampa? Oakland? KC? etc. He could be a starting tackle for any of those teams, and probably more. I dont expect him to get signed on as such, but some team with a little less invested on the offensive side of the ball will give him what he wants just because of that versatility. Cincy probably drops a transition tag on him just so they retain the option to match, but in the end I doubt they pull the trigger.

don't they get a 1st if they don't match?

Question when the jets franchised John Abraham did he ever sign it before the trade?

or did they just use it to give em time to find a trade and when he was traded? did they have to pay him still or?

[Tasher]

Anybody heard any details about what is going on here? How serious? What happened?

I guess this might clear the way for Odell to come back onto the Active Roster after the New England game...

[Kazkal]

Did they place him on IR? I guess they could at week 4 if he doesnt get activated by then

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Whoa. Whitworth to get his first start for the oft-injured Levi and TJ has also been downgraded.

I sure as hell hope this is precautionary and not lingering injuries that will go on for weeks.

I worry about what's really wrong with TJ at this point (achilles?).

No matter, I'm sure it's a matter of time, Bengals' will have to own up, and they can.

Uh, is there another thread on this? It was posted on Bengals.com at 2:45 pm - I was a bit suprised by the news when checking TJ's status for my fantasy team.

It's not official but it doesn't sound like either of them are playing Sunday.

[Kazkal]

I think TJ is just a bruised heel but why not give him a extra week to recover when probbley still win without him,as for levi I am worried too hopfully he recovers by the steelers game o_O I think whitworth will do fine though vs browns rookie vs rookie

[Stripes]

At least we'll be put in this position against a bad team, but I still can't help but be concerned about the coming weeks. Hopefully they're back soon.

[ArmyBengal]

Can't see this as anything near good for the offense. It's one thing to take TJ out of the mix and keep up, but now we are taking him AND one of our pro bowl talent o-linemen out of the mix ?? I still think it will be ok, but the Browns always play us tight and I would rather have them there for the first divisional game... It will be fun to watch Whitworth in action though, he's a f*cking house !!!

WHODEY !!!

[membengal]

The discussion of it is buried at the end of my now too optismistic by far healthy-for-the-weekend thread...

[Kazkal]

he's a f*cking house !!!

\

think how rudi will like running behind a house on each side.

[derekshank]

I think TJ is just a bruised heel but why not give him a extra week to recover when probbley still win without him,as for levi I am worried too hopfully he recovers by the steelers game o_O I think whitworth will do fine though vs browns rookie vs rookie

I don't think there is any question. Even without Housh, our WR depth is far too much for their terrible secondary. They've got a damn decent front 7... but our WR's should have a field day. Housh... get rested up for Pittsburgh!

[DontPushMe]

Henry needs to step up, this is his big chance and so far hes blowing it. 1 catch for -5 yards isnt getting it done. This is ok though because of our WR depth, maybe we will get to see Washingtons awesome first down thing, and if we are really lucky even the squirrel this week.

More worried about Levi, Whitworth is slooooow. Wimbley will blow right by this guy. Im kinda hoping Steinbach moves out to LT and Whitworth starts at LG.

[derekshank]

Henry needs to step up, this is his big chance and so far hes blowing it. 1 catch for -5 yards isnt getting it done. This is ok though because of our WR depth, maybe we will get to see Washingtons awesome first down thing, and if we are really lucky even the squirrel this week.

I'm just going to have to disagree with you on this one. Firstly... I don't think this is his big chance. He's already earned the #3 spot... and we use 3 WR sets all the time, so he's getting plenty of playing time. He's doesn't have a lot to prove. The coaching staff isn't going to bench him.

Secondly... I don't think you cna look at the KC game as a measuring stick for any of the WR's. Chad caught 5 passes... but for only 48 yards. Tab Perry caught 2 passes... and every other person who caught a pass, caught only one. Carson only threw the ball 19 times, and comleted only 13. 13 completions is the exception, not the rule. Henry has alread proven he is a productive WR in this league last year. His 1 reception last week doesn't change anyones mind.

The guy who has something to prove is Washington, and he too only caught 1 ball last week. I imagine both he and Henry will have plenty more opportunities this week against Cleveland.

[DontPushMe]

Henry needs to step up, this is his big chance and so far hes blowing it. 1 catch for -5 yards isnt getting it done. This is ok though because of our WR depth, maybe we will get to see Washingtons awesome first down thing, and if we are really lucky even the squirrel this week.

I'm just going to have to disagree with you on this one. Firstly... I don't think this is his big chance. He's already earned the #3 spot... and we use 3 WR sets all the time, so he's getting plenty of playing time. He's doesn't have a lot to prove. The coaching staff isn't going to bench him.

Secondly... I don't think you cna look at the KC game as a measuring stick for any of the WR's. Chad caught 5 passes... but for only 48 yards. Tab Perry caught 2 passes... and every other person who caught a pass, caught only one. Carson only threw the ball 19 times, and comleted only 13. 13 completions is the exception, not the rule. Henry has alread proven he is a productive WR in this league last year. His 1 reception last week doesn't change anyones mind.

The guy who has something to prove is Washington, and he too only caught 1 ball last week. I imagine both he and Henry will have plenty more opportunities this week against Cleveland.

Yeah true, I guess i was just hoping for more from Henry last week. Plus I had him starting in a fantasy football league.