Lewis: Palmer needs to play in preseason

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said this afternoon that Carson Palmer has to play in the preseason in order to play Sept. 10 in the regular-season opener at Kansas City. Lewis said Palmer is medically cleared and "fine to go" and that when Palmer plays is up to Palmer.

Lewis would not say who would start at quarterback Friday night at Buffalo in the second preseason game and would not rule out the possibility of Palmer playing. Lewis did say Palmer does not have to play against the Bills in order to play in the season opener at Kansas City.

Safety Anthony Mitchell has a sprained foot and will not play against the Bills, and left tackle Levi Jones suffered a sprained right ankle and is day to day. ... Lewis also said Adam Kieft (knee), Chris Perry (ankle) and Sam Adams (leg) will probably not play, and that Kieft and Perry were out for sure. "We'll decide on Sam later," Lewis said.

Defensive end Jonathan Fanene (hamstring) and cornerback Greg Brooks (quad) are day-to-day, as well, Lewis said. Fanane needs to pass a physical and be removed to the PUP list (physically unable to perform). ... Wide receivers Antonio Chatman (pelvis) and Bennie Brazell (leg), linebacker David Pollack (hamstring) and cornerback Deltha O'Neal (hand) are expected to play.

Safety Kevin Kaesviharn has battled back spasms and did not play against Washington. Lewis said a decision would be made later in the week whether Kaesviharn would play Friday. ... As for the release of defensive tackle Matthias askew, Lewis said, "He wasn't going to make our football team at this time."