Marvin Frazier, a representative for former Bengals receiver Chris Henry, said Wednesday night he's talking to other teams as well as the Bengals about his client. He said he's got nothing going with the Bengals at the moment and hasn't talked to them in a couple of days, but is currently talking to others.
Asked if the Bengals are interested, he said, "I guess so," and indicated he'd have some answers by the weekend.
But after practice Monday, head coach Marvin Lewis pretty much indicated his stance of last month hasn't changed. He's not looking to re-sign Henry as a third receiver.
Lewis said not to put much stock in the NFL.com report of the Bengals' interest in Henry. He disagreed that the story has legs because no No. 3 receiver has emerged.
"I don't think it has legs because of anything," Lewis said. "We need to get T.J. back and healthy and keep working with the other guys ... but this question of the third receiver when most people don't have two, I appreciate that."
Running back Rudi Johnson took the field Wednesday night with everybody else in shoulder pads and shorts as Marvin Lewis declared that running back Chris Perry is playing for a starting spot. But he also said, "Everybody is gunning for a starting spot."
Lewis said it's possible Johnson will play Sunday. Johnson has said he will.
Cornerback Ethan Kilmer and safety Herana-Daze Jones remained sidelined with what are believed to be muscle pulls.
Backup center Dan Santucci, who injured his ankle Monday night in Green Bay, is on crutches and in a cast with what could be an injury that ices him for at least a month. Before practice the four quarterbacks took snaps from starter Eric Ghiaciuc and backup Kyle Cook as well as starting guards Bobbie Williams and Andrew Whitworth.
As Williams came on the field, offensive line coach Paul Alexander told him, "This is permanent duty," which means Williams and Whitworth need the extra work in case of an emergency.
Left tackle Levi Jones got the night off, as did cornerback Deltha O'Neal.
The Bengals defense looked to be going back to basics in the first hour of practice, especially in some tackling drills after the poor wrapping up of Monday night. Secondary coach Kevin Coyle had one line of DBs hold a bag to the side while the other line came across, dove and tackled the bag to the ground.
Coyle, the former University of Massachusetts safety, demonstrated what he wanted much to the delight of his players as he rolled on the ground, sans hat.
"Take your legs with you, wrap and roll, stay low," he barked.
