Updated: 4:20 p.m.
Running back Brian Leonard, out since the Aug. 8 preseason opener with a mid-foot sprain, returned to limited practice Thursday aftternoon as the Bengals worked in shoulder pads and shorts. Not on the field was wide receiver Andre Caldwell, limited Wednesday with a groin issue. Caldwell and cornerback Brandon Ghee (concussion) were the only players fully out. Defensive linemen Jon Fanene (hamstring) and Geno Atkins (knee) both went full go after being limited Wednesday.
Leonard's diagnosis had been for a return in the second or third game and it still looks that way. He said he only did individual drills Thursday and he's looking to gain more confidence cutting on it, but he says he feels ahead of schedule.
"Great tape job and I've got some orthotics," Leonard said after practice. "Once I get my confidence back doing really hard, sharp cuts ... I haven't done a ton of that. I did some today. Once I get that back I'll be ready."
MUST SEE TV: It sounds like the T.O.-Ocho Show is going to be the NFL's version of "The View."
Before Thursday's practice Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens revealed that he and teammate wide receiver Chad Ochocinco are going use Tuesday's off day to tape the weekly show, which debuts Tuesday, Oct. 12 on Versus at 10:30 p.m.
"It's going to be what you see with the both of us; being expressive," Owens said. "We have an avenue to say what we want to say without people misinterpreting or taking our words out of context."
The Dynamic Duo has been turning down a lot of interview requests this week. Owens, wearing an orange T-shirt with a black Batman logo, says the show could be looking for guests. Even sportswriters.
"It's our deal. There'll be non-football issues and football-related things. Possibly we'll have some guests. Maybe we'll have you on the show," Owens said. "This is good for Chad and I because we always get requests from the media. Now we can turn it down. We're sort of like media, in a sense. We can make our own requests. Maybe we'll send some requests out there and we get turned down as well."
This week marked the debut of The Ocho's cereal and Owens was asked if it tastes better than his own cereal that is on the market.
"It's the same thing. It's the same cereal. Same box," Owens said. "It's just got the second best looking guy on the box."
*SLANTS AND SCREENS *
» As expected, some members of the Boston media reacted to the Tom Brady car accident as if a head of state had been involved an assassination plot. But as the dust settled, tweets and posts had him throwing early in Thursday's practice as he preps for Sunday's opener against the Bengals at Gillette Stadium.
According toThe Boston Globe, Brady didn't require hospitalization after the accident in the Back Bay section of Boston Thursday morning. A passenger in the other car was taken to a hospital, police told the newspaper.
One witness told reporters that Brady's sedan was traveling on Gloucester Street and had a green light at Commonwealth Avenue when a minivan, traveling on Commonwealth, went through a red light. Witnesses told the paper that Brady emerged from the wreck dusting off glass from his clothes and was unhurt but shaken.
» It won't take Bengals rookie wide receiver Jordan Shipley very long to see just how good T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Wes Welker play the slot.
The two guys with whom people compare Shipley provide the competition in his first two NFL games. Welker lines up for the Patriots 1 p.m. in New England this Sunday and Houshmandzadeh returns to Cincinnati with the Ravens Sept. 19 for the Paul Brown Stadium opener and his first appearance here since he finished his Bengals career as the club's third all-time leading receiver.
Shipley has met Welker, a Texas Tech product, before but it was a long time ago during the recruiting process and he ended up going to Texas.
"I've met him a few times," Shipley says. "He's as good as they come in this league. We've watched some tape on him. I don't copy (other players), I just try to have my own style. I do like what he does. He always finds a way to get open. Obviously I don't mind being compared to a guy that leads the league in receptions."
» New special teams captain Brandon Johnson says linebackers Dan Skuta and Michael Johnson will pick up the tackles on special teams left by Kyries Hebert, Rashad Jeanty and Abdul Hodge: "Skuta is our best special teams player."
