Rudi Johnson, among the most durable Bengals and the NFL leader with 1,039 rushing attempts the previous three seasons, might not play Monday night against New England because of a hamstring injury suffered at Seattle. There was no official injury report Tuesday, but during a news conference Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said, "the guys who were banged up in the Seattle game who we're unsure about would be Caleb Miller and Rudi Johnson." Johnson has played in 64 consecutive games with the Bengals, dating to the fourth game of 2003. He has made 53 starts

Another bizarre week of twists, turns and turbulence in Cleveland ended with more absurdity: Browns 51, Bengals 45. Derek Anderson threw five touchdown passes, Jamal Lewis rushed for 216 yards and the Browns, so desperate after being embarrassed in their home opener that they traded their starting quarterback two days later, outlasted the Bengals and Carson Palmer 51-45 on Sunday.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Deltha O'Neal drove a woman and her 3-year-old son to Anderson Mercy Hospital on Thursday after they were bitten by a Rottweiler dog at his home, the Clermont County sheriff said. O'Neal, 30, apparently wasn't home when Jasmie Risco, 23, and her son, Jaiden, were bitten on the legs and buttocks by the pet, said Sheriff A.J. "Tim" Rodenberg. A woman later identified as Risco telephoned 911 at 8:31 a.m., mumbled something to a dispatcher that sounded like a plea for help and sobbed hysterically.

With injured players shuffling off the field in waves, Cincinnati pulled off the kind of victory Monday night that could set the tone for a season. Carson Palmer threw his second touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, and a suspect defense pulled off a goal-line stand in the closing seconds that preserved a 27-20 win over the Ravens.

The Bengals terminated Antonio Chatman's contract, releasing him to free agency. He played in only three games in 2006, his first season with the club, and had just three receptions. He had a groin injury. Apparently healthy and ready to challenge for the job as third receiver and primary punt return man, Chatman suffered a hamstring injury in the first training camp practice at Georgetown College. He got on the field a couple of other times but had been laid up for the past couple of weeks. He was not expected to be ready until the bye week in early October at the soonest.

No. 2 quarterback Doug Johnson was released Saturday by the Bengals, who replaced him by getting Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Rams for a conditional draft pick. Johnson was dumped a day after he threw a pair of interceptions in a 14-6 preseason loss to Indianapolis, another poor showing that prompted the Bengals make the trade.

Levi Jones, 13 months after signing a six-year contract extension worth more than $40 million with the Bengals, wondered late Friday night about his future with the team. Following the Bengals' 14-6 victory against Indianapolis in the preseason finale, Jones said he is not being prepared to play during practice and noted that he was on the field with third-string players well into the second half. "I have been ready for a few weeks now ... I've been ready to play for two weeks but haven't got a lot of snaps in practice," Jones said. "I get minimal snaps in practice. I've been thrown into games without much preparation. I'm spelling people. I'm a Virgo. I like to be prepared for all situations."