Pat Sims News

Head coach Marvin Lewis made the call after Friday's practice. Peko, who has never missed an NFL game in his four seasons, is on the shelf for the first time in 60 games with the sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee.

Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko had arthroscopic knee surgery on Monday, sidelining him for at least a couple of weeks.

First things first. We at Cincy Jungle will be supporting our great University of Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday as they take on -- and take it to -- the Pitt Panthers for the Big East championship as well as a BCS game and, if the planets align, a national championship.

Running back Cedric Benson was on the field Thursday but was doing rehab work while team practiced.

A no-name defense has helped make the Cincinnati Bengals the surprise team of the NFL through the first half of the season.

The Bengals are 10-2-1 at Paul Brown Stadium in their last 13 against the NFC and are unbeaten in their last three.

After his defense was carved up for 472 yards by Houston last week, Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is dealing with many of the same problems as the offense.

They may not have past NFL sacks to replace him, but they've got guys willing to play despite getting sacked.

Also Monday, head coach Marvin Lewis said that rookie right tackle Andre Smith returns to practice Wednesday and will do some work as trainers monitor the response of his broken foot before letting him participate in everything.

Bengals running back Brian Leonard and defensive tackle Frostee Rucker missed a third straight day of practice and are listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans at Paul Brown Stadium.

Each Sunday, the FO staff sends around e-mails about the games that each of us are watching.

The NFL has launched an investigation into whether Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards violated the league's conduct policy for allegedly punching the friend of his sports rival LeBron James outside a nightclub early Monday.

Bengals DT Tank Johnson is out of today's game with the Ravens after he was listed as questionable this week due to a foot injury.

Edwards reportedly punched Edward Givens at 2:30 a.m. at the View Ultra-Lounge & Nightclub, 618 Prospect Ave., in Cleveland, and some of the receiver's teammates also reportedly threw punches to defend themselves.

It doesn't look like Cavaliers small forward LeBron James and Browns receiver Braylon Edwards will be hanging out together anytime soon.

Shayne Graham kicked a 31-yard field goal with four seconds left in overtime, as the Cincinnati Bengals pulled out a 23-20 victory over Cleveland to keep the Browns winless.

Shayne Graham's field goal on the final play of overtime barely sliced through the right upright and the Bengals survived with a 23-20 win over the Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The latter two led to Derek Anderson's 1-yard TD run om 4th-and-1 that tied the game at 14.

It's never been better to be wrong. Cincinnati is still elated after a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback against the loathsome Steelers on Sunday in a game that truly typified the attitude of Marvin Lewis' newest breed of Bengal.

The Bengals stand one miracle play away from being 3-0. To those who have not seen them play, that might seem shocking.