Head coach Marvin Lewis said that Palmer would be evaluated by the team’s medical staff Saturday morning but that if Palmer’s right elbow continues to respond to treatment and the workouts as it has all week then the Bengals should have their No. 1 guy back in the lineup.
“The medical staff doesn’t feel that he is risking anything,” said Lewis. “If they determine he’s okay to play based on what he’s done, then there’s no risk. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be playing.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick started in place of Palmer in last week’s 20-12 loss against Cleveland and would get the start if Palmer cannot go against the Cowboys. Palmer is still listed as questionable on the team's official injury report.
According to C. Trent Rosecrans of Clear Channel Communications in Cincinnati, Palmer told reporters Friday morning that his week has been normal with the exception of how much he threw the ball.
“I've done my regular, normal week of preparation, game plan myself, watched film and studied and stuff," said Palmer. "I just haven't made all of the throws. Or any throws. It will definitely be an adjustment on game day. But nothing too big.”
Unlike last Friday, Palmer took his normal amount of practice snaps, including throwing passes every pass he would be required to do in the game. He came off the practice field wearing an ice pack on his elbow but reiterated through the team’s public relations department that he felt good and anticipates being able to play.
The Bengals enter the game ranked 31st in the league in total offense, averaging just 231.8 yards per game. The running game has been ineffective – Chris Perry is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry – and a once-vaunted passing game has been MIA. Half of T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s 24 receptions came in the 26-23 overtime loss to the Giants two weeks ago. Chad Ocho Cinco has totals of 11 receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown. To put that into perspective: he has had more yards receiving than that in a single game 18 times in his career.
How much Henry will be able to help immediately is a toss-up. Henry spent most of the week playing the role of Dallas’ Terrell Owens for the scout team offense, while mixing in some plays with the regular offense.
Lewis said he was pleased with the progress Henry has made in his first week back with the team following a four-game NFL suspension for violating the player code of conduct.
“He got the message and he spent the four weeks being very productive,” said Lewis. “He got himself in football conditioning and football shape, and that’s great. He’s practiced his butt off, he’s taken all of the snaps against the defense all week and some snaps in the offense so he’s obviously been preparing where sometimes that’s difficult for some guys to do after they’ve been away for four weeks unless they’ve really been working their butt off.”
The Bengals have a roster exemption for Henry this week. They have until 4 p.m. on Saturday to take him off that exemption and add him to the 53-man roster. They would have to release another player to make room for Henry, whose addition would mean the Bengals potentially could be carrying seven wide receivers.
Neither of the team’s rookie draft picks – Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell – have caught a pass this season but the team is not going to give up on either of them at this point. Antonio Chatman has been the No. 3 receiver and has 10 catches for 118 yards while also reviving the team’s punt return game with a 10.3-yard average. Glenn Holt does not have a reception this season but has averaged 26.2 yards on kickoff returns.
Henry never seemed to endear himself to Lewis or the coaching staff last season when he returned from an 8-game suspension. He finished the season with 21 catches for 343 yards and two touchdowns but was often times limited in the offense because of the missed time. The Bengals released Henry on April 3 following his arrest on assault charges in Cincinnati. The case was ultimately dismissed after Henry’s trial ended in a hung jury, with six of eight jurors voting to acquit him.
The Bengals re-signed Henry on Aug. 19. Lewis made no secret during the offseason and the time prior to the signing that he was not in favor of bringing back Henry but Bengals president Mike Brown made the move despite the head coach’s thoughts on the matter.
Lewis was very upbeat regarding Henry on Friday, however. He said if the Bengals activate the wide receiver to the roster by Saturday’s deadline it is because they plan on playing him in the game.
“I just think the conditioning level is hard to judge and I’ve been very pleased with that,” said Lewis. “We’ve seen guys before that haven’t been able to handle that and he was diligent in following the program that was prescribed for him.”