TRAINING CAMP 2008 INDEX: Features, news, notes, video, photos, schedule and more * * *
Posted: 5:30 a.m.
GEORGETOWN, Ky. - In what already must be dubbed "The No Timetable Camp," Chad Johnson looks to be getting closer and closer to a return from ankle surgery after spending all Monday with the rehab and strength staff.
Johnson cut a solitary figure walking to his dorm room at about 11 p.m., two hours after the Bengals finished their first full day of training camp.
"As he's working on the late stages of rehab and really getting pretty functional in his running and working on his cutting, I'm working with him in the weight room," said strength coach Chip Morton. "He's fun to work with."
 Johnson |
But if anyone was concerned that Johnson wasn't going to be in the spirit because of his contract, that will have to be shelved until another offseason. At the moment, his phone is only taking text messages.
So Johnson really can't talk about Monday's story that he showed up at camp only after agent Drew Rosenhaus met with Bengals officials Sunday in Cincinnati and got an assurance they would review his deal after the season.
"I don't talk to Drew now; it's camp," Johnson said in the glow of the Georgetown lights. "My momma and kids can't even call me. They know not to bother me now. If my momma can't call, Drew can't. No one. I check the texts for emergencies. So I don't know what's going on."
Johnson, who said last month he was coming to camp, said he only limps after a workout session because it's sore. Head coach Marvin Lewis is giving no timetable on injuries this camp and Johnson doesn't know, either.
"It's not up to me. I'm trying to get ready for the damn scrimmage Friday night," said Johnson of the intrasquad game.
Morton doesn't know either. But he does know Johnson is hungry to return.
"He's got a lot of energy; Chad is Chad," Morton said. "He's excited. He's excited about working. He's attentive. He's diligent. The guy's fun."
Since he's "behind the 8 ball a little bit in his strength training," Morton is working with Johnson twice a day with the weights. Up at 6 a.m. Monday, Johnson got in an upper body lift. After the night practice, they worked the legs. That gave him enough time in between to get in his running and cutting with rehab man Nick Cosgray.
"From what I can see, he's running pretty well; he can run," Morton said. "That's all he's doing right now is training."
6 a.m.?
Ray Oliver, associate strength coach, blows the air horn at 6:45 to wake up camp.
"I'm always up at 6," Johnson said. "I should be blowing the horn."
