Steven Jackson nearly a Bengal

The only two Bengals players who did not practice today are wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee) and safety Madieu Williams (thigh).

Looking ahead at the Rams on Sunday, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said, "They have played very good football as of late -- back to where they thought they'd be offensively with their vertical passing game.

Bengals players paid verbal respect to the talent and longevity of Rams wide receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said he is not "trying to do too much" following two poor performances in the past three weeks.

The game against the Rams is the first for the Bengals since the 2003 season, so it doesn't cover the 2004 draft. Late in the first round, the Bengals traded the 24th overall pick to the Rams for the 26th and 123rd overall selections. The Rams took Oregon State running back Steven Jackson at 24. The Bengals drafted Michigan running back Chris Perry at 26. They used No. 123 on offensive lineman Stacy Andrews from Mississippi.

"We were able to gain a pick," Lewis said of the trade. "(Jackson) has done very well. And Chris, when healthy, has done well here. ... We couldn't lose on the pick."

Perry has been limited to 22 games with three starts. In 2005, when he played in 14 games, he had 51 receptions.

Jackson, slowed by a groin injury this season, has been a double-threat. He is fifth all-time in NFL history with 2,334 yards from scrimmage in 2006. He had 1,528 rushing yards and 806 receiving yards on 90 receptions.

He played at Oregon State, which produced Bengals wide receivers Chad Johnson and Houshmandzadeh, both of whom were drafted in 2001.

"It would have been interesting. You guys would have had three Oregon State guys," Jackson said today. "But I really understand why they were comfortable with drafting Chris. He was having a heck of a year in college; he was a Michigan guys, and I'm sure they had a chance to see him live in a lot more of his games."

Jackson keeps up with Houshmandzadeh and Johnson and made an appearance with them and "hung out" during Super Bowl Week at Miami.

"There are not too many of us in the NFL so we keep up with one another, pretty much," Jackson said of the Oregon State alumni. "Those guys continue to set the bar high. I try to stay right behind them and stay at a high level."

Jackson has 628 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season.