Bengals: Update: Rudi Johnson probable

Friday, October 12, 2007

Update: Rudi Johnson probable

Bengals tailback Rudi Johnson was back in uniform Friday, practiced and was listed as probable for the game Sunday at Kansas City.

Before the workout started, he stretched near his stationary bike. He missed the Patriots game with a hamstring injury he suffered in Seattle in Week 3.

The Friday injury report lists:

-- Linebackers Ahmad Brooks (groin) and Caleb Miller (back) as doubtful; they did not practice today.

-- Defensive ends Jonathan Fanene (knee) and Frostee Rucker (hand) as questionable. Fanene did not practice today; Rucker was limited.

-- Safety Dexter Jackson (illness), Johnson (hamstring) and center Alex Stepanovich (knee) are probable and all three practiced fully.

Coach Marvin Lewis said he would make the decision at game time whether to activate Johnson. Chances are the Bengals will alternate Johnson with Kenny Watson -- who ran well in a start against New England -- in an attempt to get their 26th-ranked rush offense going. They average just 83.3 yards a game.

20 Comments:

at 10/12/2007 12:13 PM

Anonymous said...

So much for the running game.
I wonder how long Rudi has left on his contract. I thought his replacement did a better job than Rudi did.

at 10/12/2007 12:24 PM

Anonymous said...

I'll play linebacker if they need someone...

at 10/12/2007 12:54 PM

Anonymous said...

Rudi is a "Going Downhill" runner. Let Watson take the ball.

at 10/12/2007 1:08 PM

Anonymous said...

Mark,
I was afraid of that. I think Rudi is done. He has never been a threat to score a TD. He used to keep ahold of the ball and grind out some average yards behind a great line. Now that the line is hurt he is not effective. I think Watson was refreshingly fast and always a broken tackle away from a touchdown. I guess we will see on Sunday.

george in zanesville.

at 10/12/2007 1:11 PM

Anonymous said...

It is a good thing that Caleb Miller was in street clothes. Now they need to work on getting other guys who can't play on the sideline in street clothes. Off the sideline all together.

at 10/12/2007 2:00 PM

Anonymous said...

I was sooooo hoping that Rudi would at least miss another week so that I could get another taste of what watson may be able to do? I have been saying this for two years put watson in, Rudi gets caught in the backfield way too often, and is literally not near as fast as watson. Rudi lived off the great offensive line we had, he hesitates and trie to go side to side to often and he just CANNOT do it. I believe we should cut him after this year if we get Kenny Irons back, and save any money that we can for a washed up back that is never a threat to break away for a 50 yard, 60 yard, td ever. He is probably paid up there with the top 5 backs in the nfl, and he just is not that good. He is a back that will get you 4, 5, 7 , every once in a while 11, but then he will lose 1 2, 4 he gets what the defense gives him, and thats it, never breaks away, and I mean never!!!!!!!1

at 10/12/2007 2:45 PM

Anonymous said...

Everyone loved Rudi previous years, his name echoing through the stadium... Cut the guy a break, he is what he is - maybe we over-rated him before? Regardless, the offensive line is mess, the QB and WR play isn't what it should be and our defense can't stay on the field long enough. Those are the issues regardless of reason or injury. The team can't come up with enough elements that will allow him to have a chance at being effective. LT couldn't run here, the problems in San Diego are proof of it!

at 10/12/2007 2:56 PM

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm sure before this year began you were all praising Rudi Johnson. Just because our line has shown no consistency and he for once got injured this year you all want to give him a hard time. Rudi still has 2 or 3 more productive years in him. Here's a great example of how wrong you all are...Stephen Jackson in St. Louis: Injured O-Line= slow start! Give Rudi a chance to get things going. 1300yds for 3 straight years, thats consistency.

at 10/12/2007 3:01 PM

Anonymous said...

Agree ... Rudi is not very good. I bet he has led the NFL the last couple of years in number of rushes for 2 yards or less. For every 1 rush of 8 yards, Rudi has 7 rushes of 2 yards or less. He may even lead the NFL in most rushes for lost yardage. He makes no one miss and goes down when the first guy hits him.

at 10/12/2007 3:17 PM

Anonymous said...

Marvin Lewis is limping on one leg because of his half ass decision making. He was hired as head coach to bring something to Cincy's DEF like he did with conference rival Baltimore but has not made anything of it thus far to it. This proves that the Ravens DEF was good because of other coaches and that Marvin Lewis is an over rated coach. Also, the fact that he hasn't used Kenny Watson in the offense proves he dosn't know what the hell he is doing. Watson, who has had only 25 carries in the past 2 seasons has also had 25 receptions averging 13 yds for every reception. Rudi Johnson who gets more than 300 carries a season also has about 25 receptions a season but is only averging 5 yards a reception...HELLO...WAKE UP MARVIN LEWIS and give Kenny Watson more backfield time. So much potential with this team and time is just slipping away...fire this guy NOW before all the players want to play on a winning team!!!

at 10/12/2007 3:19 PM

Anonymous said...

Rudi..Rudi..Rudi!!!

Consistency is the key here, and Rudi Johnsom has been a model of consistency over the years. He's a big part of the reason that TJ and Ocho are making big plays down the field. He still has the ability to control the running game, despite getting off to a slow start. But as Rudi goes, so goes the Bengals. (1-3)Don't give up on the Bengals and don't sleep on Rudi Johnson. He is still the best back in the Cincinnati and he will be back to 100% soon and back to his old, consistent self.

Rudi..Rudi..Rudi!!!

at 10/12/2007 3:46 PM

Anonymous said...

everybody gets so excited about rudi! he carrys to much and his ypc are dropping! ever wonder why one of the top offences last year took a rb in the 2nd round this past year.. watson sure did look good against a great new england team...i really think they should go to a two back set using both rudi and watson all three downs.

at 10/12/2007 4:49 PM

Anonymous said...

Now that Rudi's back KC has to be worried.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I just had to write that to see if I could keep from laughing.

I couldn't.

KC will kick our no-defense asses this week, even if Rudi limps for 200 yards and 3 TDs.

How many exhausted Bengal linebackers will be bouncing off Larry Johnson as he runs for 300 yards and 4 TDS?

A: All of them.

Do we still have only four healthy LBs???

Huard won't need to throw a pass. He can just yell at the Bengals HERE COMES ANOTHER RUN, BOYS! And laugh all the way to the end zone all day long.

at 10/12/2007 5:42 PM

Anonymous said...

Rudi Johnson is a far superior back than Kenny Watson at this point in time. Cut him some slack. 12 TDs and over 1300 yards for the last three years is proof enough.

Use your brain people. Rudi will be back to form soon enough.

at 10/12/2007 6:30 PM

Anonymous said...

You are all losing your minds. You are trying to do exactly what San Diego did. Rudi is a very good back and if he is replaced the team will be effected the same way San Diego was effected when they started Norv Turner. The grass is always greener on the other side, even if u have one of the best and most consistant rbs in the nfl.

at 10/12/2007 6:31 PM

Anonymous said...

Five Things I Have Noticed...

1. The OL is banged up.
2. The Brat has been calling for running plays outside the tackles.
3. Rudi needs to get back to hitting the hold hard.
4. Rudi gains most of his yardage in the fourth quarter when the team is up and the opponent is worn down.
5. As usual, Bengal fans like the backup RB as the the starter.

Starter: James Brooks
Backup: Harold Green

Starter: Harold Green
Backup: Eric Bienemy

Starter: Harold Green
Backup: KiJana Carter

Starter: KiJana Carter
Backup: Garrison Hearst

Starter: KiJana Carter
Backup: Corey Dillon

Starter: Corey Dillon
Backup: Rudi Johnson

Starter: Rudi Johnson
Backup: Chris Perry

Starter: Rudi Johnson
Backup: Kenny Watson

at 10/13/2007 9:13 AM

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:30 pm - Norv Turner??? Did he take off his headset and put on a helmet? LOL Talk about Clueless!

Anon 6:31 pm - JB was on his last legs, KJ got hurt, Dillon did replace Carter and Rudi did replace Dillon and both produced. Get a clue!

I too want to see what Watson can do more and ML is clueless in this area if he can't see that Watson could be what we need to get this running game going. I too like Rudi, but his time to be replaced was coming, why would ML select Perry and the Irons if he was not thinking the same thing? Some of you are Clueless!

at 10/14/2007 8:51 AM

Anonymous said...

Gameday returns!, or is that a bad thing? :) I still can't figure out how you and other "esteemed" beat writers continue to think that this team has the ingredients to win a road game let alone more than 7 games total this season. My forty years of wisdom, yes I am four months older than this team, tells me this:
1) Larry Johnson will remind the league that he is a force to be dealt with- the Bengals have a tremondous ability to re-ignite a career (see Priest Holmes' game in Baltimore 6 or seven years ago).

2) Carson is what everyone (fans included)is hanging their hat on and it is simply foolish to think that this team is going to win 42-38 every week.

3) Additionally, Carson is the only thing that has changed since pre-Marvin. The reality is Marvin and his staff are average at best. Certainly gameday strategy/execution is often questionable for this group of coaches. But the personnel decisions on draft day, the very day that this organization "has" to fuel it's legitimacy, continues to be prepared for and executed as if it were a game of "Yatzee". It makes you wonder things like, "how much has really changed other than Marvin is in the foreground and we "earned" the first pick of the 2003 draft and obtained a "potential" Hall of Fame QB.

The answer is "not much".

What is the Bengal's franchise record? I don't know the exact number of wins and loses, but I know that it is know where close to .500- they are losers!

at 10/15/2007 7:28 AM

Anonymous said...

Kenny Watson should be the starter...period. He has much more running back skills than Rudi Johnson. Rudi runs like Charles Alexander, which is no lateral movement or cutting ability at all. Watson can cut, run laterally, run with power. I'm sick of those tippy toe moves of Johnson. He does not see the field well and shows no flexibilty with is running game. Watson needs to start.

at 10/17/2007 12:42 PM

DelRio George said...

You are sick Rudi is not the reason for a bad season. We will be a much better team with the return of Henry. He loves to play but needs to grow up a bet. As for Rudi he has been one of the best backs we have had. He runs the ball with power and can get those 2 to 3 yds when needed. I do agree that we need a better line on bose sides of the ball. Still love those Bengals.

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Friday, October 12, 2007

Update: Rudi Johnson probable

20 Comments: