Michael

Johnson

Johnson reportedly suffered a multi-week injury in Week 2, but he was able to get in three limited practices this week. LB Preston Brown (ankle) is also questionable, but he seems more likely to play than Johnson.

The coaching staff loves Johnson’s motor, but there are concerns that he wore down late in the season due to nagging injuries. “He plays so hard. He played more snaps than anyone on our defensive front,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “We have to continue take some snaps off his plate so we can get that high level all the time.”

They made the move on their team website depth chart Wednesday. Johnson has just three sacks through 11 starts, so the writing was probably on the wall. Robert Geathers will remain the Bengals’ starting left end going forward. Rucker has often struggled as a pass rusher and is unlikely to be an upgrade on Johnson. Carlos Dunlap surely would’ve been, of course.

It’s how owner Mike Brown does business, which is okay now because his team is suddenly drafting well. Brown’s penny pinching was far less forgivable when the team was bad. The approach makes sense for Johnson, because he’s coming off a breakout season in a contract year. The Bengals are keeping him in another contract year. Johnson could get big-time paid next offseason.

La Canfora reports there “doesn’t seem to be much optimism” regarding a long-term deal. That would almost certainly thrust Johnson onto the open market in 2014, as the Bengals are going to have to franchise DT Geno Atkins. Still only 26 and coming off a breakout season, Johnson could position himself for a monster contract with another double-digit sack campaign.

Johnson isn’t practicing Tuesday, leaving his streak of 61 consecutive games in doubt. He’s been excellent in run defense this season, so his absence would be good news for Bryce Brown. Backup RB Cedric Peerman (ankle) is sitting out again Tuesday.

Lapham is better-sourced than most local analysts. “I think they’ll get Michael Johnson done,” said Lapham. “If they have to (franchise) tag him, they have to tag him. He’ll definitely be back.” It’s become evident that the Bengals view Johnson as a higher priority than fellow free agent RT Andre Smith. “There’s going to be more than one team in the league that’s going to offer him premiere right tackle money,” Lapham said of Smith. “They have to decide if they want to match that kind of an offer or spend it elsewhere.”

Overshadowed by Geno Atkins, Johnson played excellent run defense while racking up 11.5 sacks of his own. Turning 26 in February, Johnson would command a mega deal on the open market. The Bengals also have Pro Football Focus’ highest-rated right tackle, Andre Smith, due to hit free agency.

Johnson was in a walking boot at the beginning of the week after sustaining a toe injury in last week’s loss to the Cowboys. He was listed as questionable on the injury report after not practicing at all during the week. Johnson, a free agent after the season, has 8.5 sacks and 42 tackles on the year.

Cincinnati has plenty of free agents on defense, but none bigger than Johnson. He finished second on the team with 11.5 sacks, one behind DT Geno Atkins. Geathers, on the other hand, is more of a run-stopping end. He has spent all nine seasons of his career with the Bengals. Johnson has been mentioned as a strong franchise-tag candidate.