Marvin Lewis didn?t actually deny the rumor Monday that the Bengals might consider trading wide receiver Chad Johnson in the offseason. Johnson, chased down this afternoon by a half dozen reporters in the players? parking lot adjacent to Paul Brown Stadium, didn?t snuff out trade talk. ?There is always truth in something,? Johnson said when asked about an ESPN report that the Bengals are thinking of trading him in the offseason. On the network?s pre-game show Sunday, NFL reporter Chris Mortensen said that a ?prominent member of the Bengals organization recently told me recently that the organization does have a decision to make on Chad Johnson, that he is so passionate and proud that if they decided to discipline him for some of those antics they believe he might shut it down.

With the position ravaged by injuries, the Cincinnati Bengals have moved left defensive end Robert Geathers to strongside linebacker, and he could stay there for a while. "He's a linebacker now," coach Marvin Lewis said. "Permanently right now. As permanent as right now can be." The Bengals have lost four straight games following their opening-week victory over the Baltimore Ravens and, with Lewis forced to scramble at the linebacker position, the defense has fallen to a No. 30 statistical ranking in the league.

Bengals WR Chad Johnson, speaking in jest, said he wouldn't mind being traded to the Jets some day. "That would be cool," he said. "I'd spice up the Big Apple."

Right tackle Willie Anderson will be sidelined for the Cincinnati Bengals' game Sunday in Kansas City, ending his streak of 116 consecutive starts and leaving the offensive line in flux. Anderson hasn't missed a game since 1999, putting together the sixth-longest streak in franchise history and the longest by an offensive lineman. He had to leave a 34-13 loss to New England on Oct. 1 after the first series. Anderson has been bothered by chronic pain in his right foot, which forced him to sit out most of training camp. While playing with that problem, he also hurt the leg -- coach Marvin Lewis has forbidden him to get into specifics. "You guys know I haven't been myself, obviously, because I haven't played a lot," Anderson said Wednesday. "You guys have seen that I haven't been up to my usual standards. I was able to play with it last year. I've played with it for a year or two now. Other things have come up."

The NFL has suspended starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph for Sunday's game at Kansas City, the Cincinnati Bengals said Tuesday. Joseph will forfeit his salary for both this game and the Jets game on Oct. 21, the club said. He was suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy. The second-year pro was arrested in northern Kentucky on Jan. 22 after a Boone County sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle he was a passenger in and smelled marijuana, according to the police report. Joseph told the deputy he had marijuana in his Super Bowl backpack, where it was found, the report said. He was placed in a diversionary program open to first-time offenders and the Bengals said Tuesday he complied with all league and law-enforcement obligations to resolve the case.

Tom Brady had three more touchdown passes. Sammy Morris had one of his best games. The New England defense had its way. The Patriots remained one of the NFL's four unbeaten teams Monday night -- and, so far, the best of the bunch -- by beating the Bengals 34-13 with a performance that showed their versatility. "I think we're doing more as an offense," said Morris, who ran for 117 yards -- the second-best total of his career -- and a touchdown. "We just want to keep it going."