Houshmandzadeh, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, said he has been troubled with a back injury since the he caught 12 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown in a 13-13 tie against Philadelphia on Nov. 16 and that he knew on Saturday that he would not be able play. Houshmandzadeh did practice on Friday but felt a twinge coming off the field and it was exaggerated during Saturday’s final walk-through workout.
“I kind of felt it walking off, I was hunched over,” said Houshmandzadeh. “I figured I would play. You get out there and you want to play when you see the crowd and you see the other team on the other sideline.”
Houshmandzadeh tied for the league lead in receptions last season with 112 catches and again led the Bengals this season with 92 receptions for 904 yards and four touchdowns. His 26-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Fitzpatrick against the Eagles was his final touchdown of the season.
Chris Henry started in Houshmandzadeh’s place, while rookie Andre Caldwell started in place of Chad Johnson(Ocho Cinco), who missed the final two games of the season and every day of practice last week with a hamstring injury. Running back Chris Perry was also on the inactive list. The speculation is that Perry, who has one season left on his contract, will be let go in the offseason.
Caldwell, the team’s third-round draft choice out of Florida, caught five passes for 34 yards and added another 49 yards on four rushing plays. The Bengals opened their first possession with a reverse to Caldwell that he gained 17 yards on. He picked up 26 yards on an end-around play in the second quarter in which he reversed his field and made a whole lot of something out of nothing.
Head coach Marvin Lewis said the plan all for the Chiefs was to get Caldwell involved in the offense early in the game in multiple facets.
“I showed that I can go out there and play, be a starter, contribute to the team and make plays,” said Caldwell, who had six catches for 44 yards coming into the game. “If my number is called, I’m going to make the play.”