Depth Chart Shake-Up

[Tee]

Posted by MarkCurnutte at 8/4/2008 9:33 AM EDT on Cincinnati.com

Chad return; depth-chart shakeup

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Wide receiver Chad Johnson is on the field and officially practicing for the first time since undergoing ankle surgery June 18. Unclear is whether he will talk after practice.

Also returning to action are tailbacks Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey (groin). Tailback Rudi Johnson and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh are still out. No official word is available from the team, but Johnson and Houshmandzadeh might just be getting rest for muscle tweaks.

The club released an updated depth chart this morning.

Some movement:

Fullback Jeremi Johnson, still not on the field because of weight-related issues, has been demoted from starter to fourth string. Daniel Coats is the new No. 1 fullback, with former Elder star Bradley Glatthar moving up to No. 2.

At strong-side linebacker, Ahmad Brooks has dropped from No. 2 to third, with Darryl Blackstock moving up from third to second.

At weak-side linebacker rookie Keith Rivers has dropped from the starter's position to No. 3. Brandon Johnson is listed as the new starter with Jim Maxwell running second.

At punt returner, cornerback Deltha O'Neal has assumed the first position, ahead of wide receiver Antonio Chatman.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/s....cincinnati.com

[Tee]

Seems as though patients are wearing thin on Brooks at LB. Wow.

Brandon Johnson is the starter and Rivers is No.3. I went to the scrimmage Friday and he was everywhere on the field.

From the sounds of it, JJ might not make the team.....

[Tee]

Stop the presses: Chad returns to practice

By Chick Ludwig | Monday, August 4, 2008, 08:52 AM

Drum roll, please …

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson hit the practice field at Georgetown (Ky.) College this morning in uniform, and he’s stretching, loosening and warming up.

Both the coaching staff and medical staff are keeping a close eye on him.

But everyone anticipates that he will practice … for the first time at Bengals Training Camp 2008.

Until today, Johnson hadn’t participated because he’s been rehabbing from June 18 arthroscopic surgery in which bone spurs were removed from his right ankle.

But he’s finally been cleared by the club’s medical staff to return to practice.

Chad was among 12 players who did not participate in Saturday’s mock game because of injuries.

The others were:

Tailbacks Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey; wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh; cornerbacks Ethan Kilmer and Jonathan Zenon, fullback Jeremi Johnson; safety Herana-Daze Jones; defensive end Antwan Odom; and linebacker Ahmad Brooks and Dan Howell.

“We’ve just got to keep pushing ahead,” head coach Marvin Lewis said. “Obviously, we’re missing some of our skill guys and we’ve got to get those back on the offensive side of the ball.”

Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said Saturday that he eagerly awaits the return of his injured weapons.

IN BRAT’S WORDS:

“We’re not at the point where we’re in dire need to have them back. There’s still plenty of time for the veterans like Chad who have been around long enough to get their game right by the opener. We’ll work him in slowly. When he does come back, it means the trainers think he’s healthy enough to do that (practice).”

[Tee]

By Chick Ludwig | Monday, August 4, 2008, 12:22 PM

CHAD FINALLY PRACTICES;

UK COACH ‘BILLY G’ OBSERVES

On the morning wide receiver Chad Johnson practiced for the first time at training camp, University of Kentucky men’s head basketball coach Billy Gillespie was in the house.

It marked Gillespie’s first time at an NFL practice, and he said he was amazed at the physical size of the players.

LUDWIG AT LARGE spoke with Gillespie after practice, and I asked him what separates Kentucky fans from the rest of the nation:

“Passion,” he said.

Finally cleared to practice after June 18 arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle, Chad Johnson looked sharp in one-on-one drills. He ran eight routes and finished every one with a catch — no drops.

He came up limping on his sore right ankle once, then took to one of the stationary bicycles on the sidelines before re-joining the squad for team drills.

“I only have two words to say: ‘Ocho time!’ ” right guard Bobbie Williams said.

Johnson drew some oohs and ahhs from the crowd when he caught a deep pass down the left sideline from Carson Palmer. But it was incomplete because the pass drifted out of bounds. Cornerback Leon Hall did a nice job of pinning Chad on the sideline.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS & LOW-LIGHTS

—-LB Brandon Johnson intercepted Carson Palmer in a red-zone drill.

—-CB David Jones slanted in front of Chad Johnson for an interception.

—-DE Frostee Rucker jumped offsides twice ON THE SAME PLAY and was replaced by Jonathan Fanene.

—-SS Dexter Jackson and Chad Johnson went back-and-forth with trash-talk chatter.

—-To a man, every Bengal praised Johnson’s talent and enthusiasm, and said his mere presence raised the squad’s intensity level.

—-Practice ended with Chad Johnson hugging safety Marvin White and giving safety Kyries Hebert a high-five and saying just loud enough for sideline observers to hear: “Eighty five is back!”

—-The media tried to corner Chad for an interview, but he tossed his shoulder pads & jersey into the back of a golf cart & jogged to the locker room as fans chanted his name.

[membengal]

Thanks for the updates Tee. Much appreciated.

Anything from C. Trent?

[Tee]

~From C.Trent's blog....

Chad: '85 is back'

Monday, August 4, 2008, 12:07 PM EST [bengals]

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- As the Bengals’ Monday morning practice concluded, Chad Johnson approached several members of the team’s secondary and said, “85 is back.”

He was back at practice, that’s for sure. If his feet looked a step or two behind following June ankle surgery, his mouth was at full speed.

Johnson spent much of the practice mouthing with safety Dexter Jackson, but sprinted by members of the local media without any noticeable limp. He declined comment as second time when approached by the media when he exited the training room.

“We’re working him slow. He’s got some things to work on,” offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. “When you’ve been away from it, playing the real game out here is different than the rehab he’s been doing. He’s got a good start out of it. We’re going to work him in slowly, bring him along a little at a time.”

Johnson participated with the first team and at the end of practice caught a long pass from Carson Palmer over Leon Hall.

“He looked good, he’s got a lot of work to do to get back in shape and just get ready for the long season ahead of him,” Palmer said. “It’s always good to get your returning starters, especially one of the best players on the team, get him working and get ready for the season.”

Bratkowski said it was possible that Johnson could participate in Monday’s preseason opener at Green Bay.

Fellow receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was still out with a “sore leg.”

“It’s just very much preventative,” Bratkowski said. “We want to make sure we don’t rush him back out and put him in the position where it’s a long-term thing and can effect opening day.”

However, running back Kenny Watson was back at practice after missing several days with an undisclosed injury.

“Both of us have been there working, trying to get back,” Watson said of Johnson. “We were checking on each other, making sure we were OK. It’s good to be back playing with my teammates. I think they know I can go and they’re ready to ease me in. I’m ready to jump right away. They hid my helmet from me.”

Johnson couldn’t hide -- all eyes were focused on him and every move during the two-hour practice. After his tumultuous off-season that included several trade demands, an bizarre showing at the team’s mandatory mini-camp and eventual surgery on both ankles in June, Johnson reported to camp on time, but hadn’t practice with his teammates until Monday – missing a total of nine practices, including Friday’s scrimmage and Saturday’s mock game.

“It’s good to have our guys back,” Palmer said. “He looked good, just has a lot of work to do, a lot of cleaning up to do. He’ll get better and better as camp goes on.”

Bratkowski is expecting even more than that.

"They've told us he'll be better than he was last year, physically," Bratkowski said. "That was bothering him last year. It was an issue, as soon as he gets healed and the strength and flexibility back, he'll be fine."

[gregstephens]

I saw Brandon Johnson at the Friday scrimmage. I understand it was just a scrimmage at training camp, but he WAS all over the field. I like giving him a shot at starting WSLB. Kid looked hungry and earned that shot.

As far as JJ is concerned...Uggh, Charlie Brown.

[HAPPYJAQ]

Disappointed that Ahmad is falling. He's healthy, right? I think that Brandon Johnson is going to end up playing a lot this year, somewhere. I like Deltha returning punts. He was a Pro Bowl returner for Denver early in his career. Rivers better get his tail in camp or he might not see the field, under the new DC.