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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, January 5, 2010

NFL: WR Ochocinco expects to play vs. Jets


By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI — Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco worked out on Tuesday even though he hadn't fully recovered from a sore knee, getting ready for a playoff rematch against the Jets team that held him without a catch.

Ochocinco landed hard on his left knee when he slipped during pregame warmups on Sunday. He limped off the field but started the game, which the Jets won 37-0. He watched the second half from the sideline to protect the knee.

New York held him without a catch, ending his streak of 120 games with a reception.

He couldn't fully extend the knee on Monday and had a precautionary medical test. He was cleared to participate in practice on Tuesday even though he was still trying to get the swelling down.

"I'm all right," the receiver said. "I'm taking medicine."

Coach Marvin Lewis expects Ochocinco to be ready for the Jets (9-7), who have the league's top-ranked defense. The receiver worked out during the part of practice that was open to the media. Lewis indicated that Ochocinco wouldn't participate in all the drills.

"Ochocinco had his ego bruised when he fell down before the game," Lewis said before practice, which was moved to an indoor soccer center because of the cold, snowy weather. "He'll be rested today. Other than that, I think he's healthy, as he's Twittered all over America. That's what happens. The only way to come back from that is to put up now. Now is the time for all of us to put up."

Ochocinco tweeted and talked trash to Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis leading up to the last game, saying he couldn't cover him in a phone booth. Ochocinco also said he'd change his last name back to Johnson if Revis shut him down.

The cornerback did, but Ochocinco backed off the name-change promise. He has no plans for another week of tweeting and tweaking the cornerback.

"This is not a week for talk," the receiver said. "This isn't a week for fun."

That's fine by Revis.

"I don't miss it," Revis said. "I did tweet early on, then I did stop because I think it's a distraction and I'm not really that type of dude to let my team down by getting distracted by somebody else."

The Bengals also expect defensive lineman Domata Peko and safety Chris Crocker back in the lineup for the playoff game. Peko, one of the team's top run stoppers, hasn't played since he had surgery to clean out his right knee on Dec. 7. Crocker missed the past three games with an ankle injury.

Cincinnati has allowed three of its past four opponents to run for more than 100 yards, with the Jets rushing for 257 yards on Sunday.