Cincinnati
Bengals

"It's a new offense and they have to get comfortable with trusting me to step in there," said Johnson, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Thursday. "The plays are the same handing off and right now the exchange has been pretty good between Carson and myself."

If there is one advantage to Johnson playing on Sunday, it's his familiarity with the Raiders. In 10 games against Oakland, he has rushed for 938 yards and 11 touchdowns, which is one fifth of his career TDs. He also has five 100-yard games against them.

In a Week 2 game in Kansas City against the Raiders this year, Johnson had 78 yards on 24 carries along with three receptions for 41 yards.

"I've played them so many times that I know what each guy does and what they do," Johnson said. "Defensively their philosophy and mentality never change. They've been keeping them in a lot of games. They play tough and don't give up the big play."

Another player who might be out is free safety Chris Crocker, who also did not practice for a second straight day due to a lower leg/calf injury. If Crocker is unable to go, that leaves only three healthy safeties on the roster for Sunday -- Chinedum Ndukwe, Tom Nelson and Kyries Hebert.

Nelson, who made the team as an undrafted free agent, is listed behind Crocker on the depth chart. He has played in five of the nine games with two tackles on defense and three on special teams.

Hebert is more known as a special teams player (he is tied for the team lead with eight) and sees limited action in the secondary. He has one tackle this season.

In his first comments since Johnson officially joined the team, Benson was tellingly guarded in his statements and said that he realizes that sometimes football can be more of a business than a game. But he wasn't exactly dancing for joy either.

"I didn't know I was supposed to be jumping out of my seat or anything. I really have no feelings about it," Benson said. "They made a move they felt they needed to do, and that's fine with me. It's not going to affect me in any kind of way. Whatever happens from here on, I can guarantee you I'll definitely be making the best of it.

"In most cases you hold your fate in your own hands. I'm not letting up in any aspect of what I'm doing. I would imagine that I would continue to be the first guy and if not I'll make it that way."

When Benson does return to the lineup, Bratkowski said they would continue to move in the direction of trying to get Scott and Leonard a couple more carries.

"It's obvious the wear and tear had a little effect on him, so we will spell him with Brian and Bernard," he said.

SERIES HISTORY: 26th regular-season meeting. Raiders lead series 17-8. The Bengals are 1-13 on the road against the Raiders and have never won in Oakland (0-9). Cincinnati won the last meeting, 27-10, at Paul Brown Stadium in 2006.

Henry, who is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season, said he would like to remain with the team but that talks on a new contract have not started yet. A lot for both sides will depend on if the league goes to an upcapped year. If a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, he could become an unrestricted free agent but would be restricted if it is uncapped.

"This is the team that brought me in and stuck with me. I pretty much want to finish my career here and get something done when the time comes," he said.

--Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski wants to see how his receivers do this week against the Raiders before moving forward with Joey Galloway. The 15-year veteran, who was with New England before being released last month, was in for a tryout on Tuesday.

Bratkowski goes a long way back with Galloway. He was the offensive coordinator in Seattle when they drafted Galloway with the eighth overall pick in 1995. The former Ohio State standout has also played for the Cowboys and Buccaneers.

"I knew he was available and his people had called me when Chris got hurt. It was a time to bring him in and see," Bratkowski said. "Obviously losing Chris we lost a playmaker and we'll see how things go as we move forward. See how guys do this weekend.

"He looked good. We just have to go forward and see how things unfold. We wanted to look and see where things were at."

--As if the 0-for-9 at Oakland isn't enough to make fans nervous, Bruce Gradkowski will be the starting quarterback for the Raiders on Sunday, replacing the ineffective JaMarcus Russell.

Gradkowski has one career win against the Bengals when he threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns to lead Tampa Bay to a 14-13 win in 2006. His last-minute touchdown pass in that game is more remembered by Bengals fans for a questionable roughing the passer penalty on Justin Smith, which kept that drive alive.

--The most famous play in Bengals-Raiders series history is from Jan. 13, 1991, when Bo Jackson suffered a hip injury while being tackled by linebacker Kevin Walker during the Raiders' victory over the Bengals in an AFC divisional playoff game. No one knew at the time, but the resulting condition, known as avascular necrosis, would lead to the deterioration of the cartilage and bone around Jackson's left hip joint.

BY THE NUMBERS: 11 -- Touchdowns scored by Larry Johnson in 10 career games against the Raiders. That's one-fifth of his total touchdowns against the league.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Marvin's always harping that this is our team, talking to the players saying, 'This is your team.' He's the head coach and he runs things, but the best teams are run by the players as far as keeping guys under control, making sure guys are working, making sure guys are in the right places at the right times." -- QB Carson Palmer on signing Larry Johnson.

Bernard Scott has officially moved into the role of top kick returner and solidified it with a 96-yard return for a touchdown last week against Pittsburgh. Offensive tackle Andre Smith's chances of becoming a game day active hinge on the health of guard Evan Mathis. Whenever Mathis is healthy again from an injured ankle, the odds are Scott Kooistra could be listed as inactive and Smith would get moved up.

PLAYER NOTES

--LB Keith Rivers missed his fifth straight practice due to a calf injury. He is unlikely to play on Sunday against Oakland with Brandon Johnson getting the start.

--WR Laveranues Coles (head) was listed as having limited participation in practice. He is probable for Sunday's game at Oakland.

--OG Evan Mathis, who missed Wednesday's practice, was limited in Thursday's practice with an ankle injury. He remains doubtful for Sunday with Nate Livings getting the start.

--CB Johnathan Joseph was limited in Thursday's practice with a nagging foot injury, but he is expected to play against the Raiders.

--FB Jeremi Johnson had full participation despite being listed with a chest injury. He is expected to be in the starting lineup against Oakland.

GAME PLAN: Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski surprised the Steelers and Bengals fans by passing on the first five plays. Expect the Bengals to open things up a little more, especially with Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell trying to take advantage of the Raiders secondary.

With Oakland deciding to go with Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback, Mike Zimmer might try to blitz a little more against a suspect Raiders' offensive line while also trying to take away Michael Bush and the running game.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco vs. Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha. Ochocinco was held in check last week against the Steelers, but he has been dangerous over the middle for most of the season; he also has two 100-yard games against the Raiders. Asomugha is one of the best shutdown corners in the league and the Raiders can leave him in one-on-one coverage with Ochocinco and not risk getting exposed.

Bengals DT Domata Peko vs. Raiders RB Michael Bush. Peko is one of the biggest reasons why the Bengals are second in the league in run defense because he can penetrate and stop runners before they can shift outside. Bush ran for 119 yards in the loss to Kansas City last Sunday, but needs to bounce quickly outside if he is going to be able to get any yards.

INJURY IMPACT: If Rivers and Mathis are unable to go again, Brandon Johnson and Nate Livings will get the starts again. If Benson is unable to play, Bernard Scott will receive most of the carries while Brian Leonard and Larry Johnson will be mixed in as well.