Lewis not happy with questions about center

Eric Steinbach was at center at the start of practice with the first-team offense this afternoon. Rookie Andrew Whitworth lined up at left guard, beside Steinbach.

Second-year lineman Eric Ghiaciuc, who started the previous two games at center, worked at center with the second-team offense, led by quarterback Anthony Wright.

Wright and starting quarterback Carson Palmer both took snaps from Ghiaciuc.

After practice, coach Marvin Lewis clearly was not pleased with a line of questions from reporters about the center situation.

Asked if Steinbach were taking snaps to prepare for a start at Tampa Bay, Lewis said, "He's practiced there all summer."

Is your plan to start Eric Ghiaciuc at center? "Our plan is to be our plan. No different than it's been."

So you have no changes to announce? "No. Would I ever announce it?"

You might have announced that Ghiaciuc would be your starter at center? "I did. I did announce that."

Are you announcing that for Sunday? "I already did that four weeks ago. I
said I announced that four weeks ago."

Missing from the start of practice were strong safety Dexter Jackson and linebacker Rashad Jeanty, both starters on the defense the Bengals are hoping to get back for the game Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Fullback Jeremi Johnson was not in his practice uniform, but he did stretch with the team but wore a hooded sweatshirt.

Defensive end Robert Geathers and cornerback Greg Brooks, both of whom suffered sprained knees against New England in Week 4, were in practice gear for the start of the practice.

After practice, Lewis threatened for the second time in three weeks to close practice to reporters that work for independent media. Reporters from newspapers, television and radio stations were limited to view practice for 15 minutes at the start of practice this afternoon.