News

Updated: 11:15 p.m.

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Live from Bengals headquarters, the first 10 minutes of the Thursday night practice on NFL Network from Georgetown College, which had more satellite feeds than Cape Kennedy.

Wide receiver Terrell Owens was delivered here at 6:06 p.m. by Bengals training camp employee Brett Lainhart in a white Chevy truck. He was dispatched to the room of Bengals director of football operations Jim Lippincott to sign his one-year deal. Then he stopped by his own room before being led to the locker room by assistant equipment manager Adam Knollman.

In order to make room for Owens the club cut wide receiver Freddie Brown.

SMITH OUT: A big surprise surfaced when the Bengals took the field Thursday morning with right tackle Andre Smith still on the sidelines and he revealed after the workout that he's shooting to play in the final two preseason games.

And there is a doomsday scenario. Head coach Marvin Lewis called it a foot as well as a conditioning isssue and said Smith wouldn't be cleared for two to three weeks at least. If his rehab doesn't go as planned, Lewis raised the option of not practicing him in the preseason and putting him on the physically unable to perform list (PUP), which would ice him six more weeks to start the regular season.  

Smith, who missed all of the last camp in a rookie holdout, was one of five players not suited up. The Bengals had hoped the foot surgery that knocked Smith out of all of the spring workouts would be healed enough for him to line up in the first practice, but he said it's not there yet and they don't want to rush it. As for when he'll return to practice, he said "I'm taking it day by day."

Under hazy skies with a touch of a breeze, Lewis commenced his eighth Bengals camp in helmets and shorts. The team isn't expected to go full pads until one of Saturday's two practices.

Also not working were cornerback Leon Hall, left guard Evan Mathis, SAM linebacker Rashad Jeanty, and safety Tom Nelson. Hall apparently tweaked his back in a workout a few days ago and is expected to be out only briefly and could be back as soon as the weekend. Jeanty (leg) and Mathis (foot) are coming off surgeries.

SLANTS AND SCREENS: Unofficially wide receiver Antonio Bryant is going to wear No. 19 after giving up 81 to Owens ... The kicking derby got off to a shaky start Thursday night. Mike Nugent and Dave Rayner missed multiple kicks and only Nugent could hit something as long as 46 yards...

Encouraging news on the first day from the guys that blew out their Achilles last year. Tight end Reggie Kelly and right end Antwan Odom worked in the morning and neither felt any pain and they were able to work in some fashion Thursday night.