Updated: 3:05 p.m.
The Bengals are in the middle of preparing for two games in five days after Sunday's game against the Bills and Thursday's 8:20 p.m. game in New Jersey against the Jets on Thanksgiving night on NFL Network.
And Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis made it clear after Friday's practice that he doesn't like Thursday games because of the demands on players.
"We've got four games in 17 days. But we're worried about player safety in the NFL," Lewis said with a smiling bite. "I think Thursday games are very difficult on players. It's difficult on players' bodies. You have many weeks where there are guys out here, they don't work until Thursday or Friday. The soreness isn't quite out until Thursday. I think that's a hard thing (for) larger guys, older guys. It is what is. We'll go and be ready to go."
» Although former Steelers kicker Jeff Reed decided not to play this weekend, it's believed he's still in the mix for a visit to Paul Brown Stadium, maybe even before the Bengals leave to play the Jets. His agent has said talks with interested teams could be revisited Sunday and Monday.
» Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (shoulder) was back on the field at Friday morning's workout in Paul Brown Stadium after he sat out Thursday. He was limited Wednesday after saying he couldn't lift his arm above his head. On Friday, he opted for the Bill Belichick hoodie under threatening, chilly skies and went full go and has been categorized as probable.
Running back Clint Boling (foot) went full go for the first time this week Friday and is questionable. Also questionable are safety Chris Crocker (thigh) and SAM Vincent Rey (thigh), who never went beyond limited this week.
» Also probale are cornerback Johnathan Joseph (neck), cornerback Brandon Ghee (groin), safety Chinedum Ndukwe (thigh), and quarterback Michael Johnson (throwing shoulder). As they were Thursday, Joseph and Ghee were limited Friday while Ndukwe and Palmer were full go.
Not working out Friday with knee problems were defensive linemen Tank Johnson and Frostee Rucker and they haven't all week. They are doubtful.
» The Bengals always work in the stadium on Fridays, but were in there all this week because of the rain.
» Rookie defensive end Carlos Dunlap hears the coaches getting on him about being a better practice player. After hauling down Colts quarterback Peyton Manning for his first NFL sack on the last play of the first half last Sunday, Dunlap thinks the results are showing up on the field.
Lewis sees signs he's getting through and has no doubts about the 6-6, 285-pound physical talent.
"I think I'm getting through to him. I need dynamite and a drill bit to get through that hard rock," Lewis said. "(He has to work on) the tempo and speed and how to practice." Lewis says he needs to see it Wednesday through Friday because "you have confidence putting him out there on Sunday and him doing it the right way (the confidence) is a little higher."
"He's got all the skills and things you'd like to have. When you draw up a defensive lineman, that's what they look like."
» Punter Kevin Huber, the holder on field goals and extra points, says the key against the Bills is the timing he has with long snapper Clark Harris as Aaron Pettrey is eased into his first game as an NFL kicker. "As long as we're not too fast or too slow, he'll be OK because it's not like he hasn't kicked before," Huber said. Huber figures they have doubled the number of usual dry runs and actual kicks this week, which puts it anywhere between 50 and 60 snaps and holds daily.
» The game may be blacked out but the sky won't be. The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio is calling for partly cloudy skies Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium with temperatures in the low 60s, no chance of rain, and winds out of the south and southwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour.
