Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said Monday that the week is going to start with nearly all hands on deck as every player but Pro Bowl tight end Tyler Eifert is expected to take team reps in preparation for Sunday's opener (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 12) against the Jets on the road.
But Lewis indicated that two players who missed all the pre-season games are going to be pushed in practice and if they're not ready for the Jets they'll be ready for the next week in Pittsburgh. That would appear to be two of the game's projected starters, Eifert's backup, Tyler Kroft (knee) and slot cornerback Darqueze Dennard (ankle).
Right tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, who played 29 snaps in the Aug. 12 pre-season opener before injuring his toe, said before Monday's practice he expects to make his first NFL start Sunday.
HOME BLACK: Since Lewis had the offense dressed in black for Monday's practice, it must be assumed the Jets have opted to wear white on Sunday and the Bengals are going to wear their home black uniforms. Little consolation for playing their seventh straight opener on the road. DAWSON UNCLAIMED:
Linebacker P.J. Dawson went through waivers unclaimed, according to NFL Network, but there was no word that he had signed on with the Bengals practice squad. Earlier Monday Lewis said he'd be surprised if Dawson wasn't claimed. So that's two surprises in two days.
