The Bengals don't know to expect from right tackle Andre Smith in Sunday's opener (1 p.m.-Cincinnati's Local 12) against the Ravens.
Smith missed all the preseason games with a concussion and Lewis said in his Wednesday news conference "We don't know what to expect from Andre until Sunday."
But Smith did go through a full practice Wednesday as did three others who missed the final preseason game: linebacker Vontaze Burfict (hamstring), tight end Tyler Eifert (shoulder) and running back Cedric Peerman (hip). Rookie cornerback Darqueze Dennard (hip), who has played one snap since the preseason opener, was limited.
Rookie wide receiver James Wright (concussion) began practice without his helmet, but rode the bike. Linebacker Sean Porter (hamstring) worked on the side and guard-center Mike Pollack (knee) had a rest day. As they will be for at least the first three games, wide receiver Marvin Jones (foot) and running back Rex Burkhead (knee) were ruled out.
Lewis knows what he's getting from Burfict. Every snap. And Burfict is embracing playing the Ravens on the road.
"It's awesome," Burfict said. "They hate us there when we walk in the building. It just feels like us against the world."
One of the big themes this week is how the Dalton-Green Bengals have yet to win Baltimore. They're 0-3 and even though the Bengals have won two of the last five AFC North titles they're 1-4 at M&T Bank Stadium.
"I can't speak for everybody, but I don't care about none of that (stuff). It doesn't bother me,' said cornerback Adam Jones. "They're quiet when (the Bengals defense is0 on the field. So it doesn't make a difference to me.
"We know that if we play with good technique and no mental errors that we should win the game. Regardless of what anybody says, we have the best team in the division. Period. Point blank. As long as we all are looking at the same things, it's going to be a good year." ...
Burfict has never been shy of exchanging words with Ravens running back Ray Rice during the game in a healthy dose of two-way respect. The 212-pound Rice is serving the first of his two-game suspension for a domestic incident and 218-pound Bernard Pierce is taking his place.
"He a great back, don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day I don't care who is back there," Burifct said. "I'm going to get him down no matter how many people it takes. He's a great back. I would love to play him. But he has problems so we'll go get ready for Pierce." …
Tight end Kevin Greene, freshly shorn from the 49ers, has joined the practice squad with an interesting pedigree. He played defensive end/linebacker at USC before head coach Lane Kiffin switched him to tight end just before his senior year. Then in Frisco, he was able to watch and learn from Pro Bowler Vernon Davis. When he landed in Cincinnati he said the first person he texted was 49ers tight ends coach Eric Mangini.
"I told him I found a home in Cincinnati, but I wanted to thank him for teaching me the fundamentals,' Greene said…
Cobi Hamilton apparently thinks he'll get a better shot elsewhere. On Wednesday rookie wide receiver Tevin Reese rounded out the Bengals practice squad. The 5-10, 170-pound Reese is a burner out of Baylor who ran 4.41 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. A seventh-rounder for San Diego, the Chargers cut him after he had five receptions for 43 yards in preseason... Cincy talk show master Lance McAlister is going to come out of the box quickly Wednesday at 3 p.m. on ESPN 1530 with this topic:
To increase the chances of home games being available on live TV in the Cincinnati home market this season, the Bengals accepted an NFL option to have blackouts lifted when 85 percent of non-premium tickets at Paul Brown Stadium are sold.
"I think fans will be ecstatic. The team has made a decision with them in mind and that's what I think they'll appreciate most," said McAlister in the Bengals locker room Wednesday. "Any fan is always looking for the sense the organization is with them and I think this a move that says 'We're with you and we want to help as well."
Two years ago the Bengals didn't opt into the program.
The way Pro Football Talk.com interprets rule, the Bengals agree to pay to the visiting-team pool half of the face value of any tickets sold beyond the 85-percent minimum in any of the team's eight home games.
