Rudi not starting; WR Henry among inactives

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer
CLEVELAND -- Rookie wide receiver Chris Henry is one of the Bengals’ inactive players for the opener today against the Browns, the team announced this morning.

Third-year wide receiver Kelley Washington, who had been listed all week as questionable with a hamstring injury, will play.

Tailback Rudi Johnson also will not start because he violated an unspecified team rule, a Bengals spokesman said this morning. Chris Perry will start, but Johnson could play the second snap and in the first possession.

The violation is believed to be minor, such as being late for a meeting. Johnson is habitually the last player to get onto the field for practice or into meeting rooms.

Other inactive Bengals players are cornerbacks Rashad Bauman and Greg Brooks, defensive end Jonathan Fanene, guard Scott Kooistra, linebacker Hannibal Navies and defensive tackle Matthias Askew. Craig Krenzel is the third quarterback.

The Browns inactive players are defensive backs Gary Baxter and Antonio Perkins, tailback Lee Suggs, offensive linemen Dave Yovanovits and Nat Dorsey, tight end Aaron Shea and linebacker David McMillan. Doug Johnson is the third quarterback.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com