The Cincinnati Bengals will meet the Ravens Sunday without wide receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. That, however, doesn't make the task any easier for the Ravens defense.
On--field antics and chatter could be non-existent without Ochocinco ( bone spur in left ankle) and Owens (torn meniscus in left knee), but the Ravens insist that Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson and slot receiver Jordan Shipley are worthy adversaries.
"You know, he and Owens are both great wide receivers," defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said Thursday. "Anytime you take somebody like that out of their lineup, that's going to affect something. But, the other thing is Caldwell and Shipley, they do a great job also. And sometimes when you have a young receiver that's trying to make the team and trying to make his mark, sometimes he steps his game up even more"
Both Caldwell and Simpson are 2008 picks, but Caldwell, the team's second third-round choice, has gotten more opportunities, catching 80 passes for 761 yards and three touchdowns while starting 11 games.
But Simpson registered six catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns in Cincinnati's 34-20 upset of the San Diego Chargers last Sunday.
"They had a good week, and they're two fun, energetic guys," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said during a conference call with Baltimore media Wednesday. "I've had them both sitting in these chairs in front of me here, not feeling so good about things, and I keep pumping them up and blowing air up their tails, just telling them, 'Keep your head down, and keep working. Your day's coming.' "
No one on the Ravens is saying that Caldwell and Simpson are as dangerous or as experienced as Ochocinco and Owens, but cornerback Josh Wilson said the secondary can't afford to take the two young players lightly.
"There's no difference," Wilson said. "You've got to prepare every week, and these guys are getting an opportunity to play. As you saw last week, they've taken advantage of it. They're going to try to show that they are the guys. So it's the same preparation because these guys are going to come ready to play. If anything, you've got to prepare more."
Heap, E.Reed expected to play
The Ravens should have tight end Todd Heap and free safety Ed Reed back Sunday. Reed practiced fully Friday after missing Thursday's workout with a neck injury and is listed as probable.
Sitting Reed for one day was "just precautionary," according to coach John Harbaugh said.
"He was a little bit tight," Harbaugh said after Friday's practice. "We just felt like we could give him a chance to recover and rest up."
Heap has missed the past three games with a pulled right hamstring suffered on Dec. 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had his first full week of practice since sustaining the injury, but is listed as questionable.
"I came out feeling really good, and I ran well, and I'm looking forward to this weekend to see how it goes Sunday," Heap said after Friday's practice. "… It's been a while since I've been out on the field. So I'm definitely excited and looking forward to it."
Wrist, not concussion, could sideline D.Reed
David Reed is no longer plagued by the concussion he sustained almost two weeks ago, but another injury could prevent the Ravens rookie kick returner/ wide receiver from playing Sunday.
Reed's left wrist has been heavily wrapped and taped, and while he declined to discuss how he injured his wrist, the team's fifth-round pick in April said after Friday's practice that the wrist is bothering him.
"It is a problem," said Reed, who was upgraded from limited to full participation Friday and is questionable. "Mentally, I'm ready. Physically, I'm a little banged up, but I'm ready."
Gooden, Zbikowski out
The Ravens ruled out linebacker Tavares Gooden (dislocated left shoulder) and free safety Tom Zbikowski (bulging disc in back), both of whom did not practice for the third straight day.
Listed as probable are wide receiver Derrick Mason (ankle/abdomen), center Matt Birk (left calf), cornerback Fabian Washington (back), linebacker Prescott Burgess (illness) and rookie tight end Dennis Pitta (concussion).
The Bengals ruled out Ochocinco (bone spur in left ankle), who missed his third straight day of practice.
Rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham (knee) sat out for the third consecutive day and is listed as doubtful. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph (ankle) did not practice for the third straight day, but is questionable.
Rookie defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who leads the team in sacks with eight, fully participated in his second consecutive day of practice and is probable.
Bulger not worried about lack of snaps
Marc Bulger is aware of Harbaugh's desire to get the backup quarterback some snaps Sunday. But Bulger said he is prepared to take his usual position on the sideline watching starter Joe Flacco lead the offense.
"I think at this point in my career, a couple snaps won't matter," the 10-year veteran said after Friday's practice. "But if I get in, that would be great. That means we're up by a bunch. But I know it's also an honor for Joe to take every snap of the regular season. So like I said, I'll be ready for every game, so I'm not treating it any differently."
A starter for eight seasons with the St. Louis Rams, Bulger said he's not concerned about being thrust into a game if the situation calls for his presence.
"If I get playing time, that would be great, but I've been prepared every week to go in," he said. "This week would be no different."
End zone
Even though the Ravens desperately need the Cleveland Browns to beat the Steelers for a shot at capturing the AFC North, the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye, Harbaugh said his team hasn't extended a helping hand to the Browns this week. "They don't need our help," Harbaugh said of the Browns. "They know Pittsburgh inside and out. Just like all of the teams in our division, they wouldn't need any help from us." … The Ravens did a fair job of containing Bengals running back Cedric Benson (23 carries for 78 yards) in a 15-10 loss on Sept. 19. But according to Mattison, handcuffing Benson remains a top priority. "It always is," Mattison said Thursday. "Any time our defense takes the field and a team has the ability to run the football, you always have to stop the run first. If you go against Carson Palmer and you allow him to have [where] he can run it and pass it, you're going to be in for a long day. So we've got to stop the run with a seven-man front, with an eight-man front, with pressures. You've got to do it mixing up or he's going to have his day."
Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley contributed to this article.