TEMPE, Ariz. — If Jake Plummer's sore ribs can't take the pounding Sunday in Cincinnati, Chris Greisen might get the first extended playing time of his career.

        Plummer practiced Wednesday for the first time since bruising his ribs and hurting his left thumb while being sacked five times in a 34-9 loss in Philadelphia on Nov. 19.

        He left the game twice and only managed one comeback. Dave Brown, his replacement, was sacked three times before that game ended and five times Sunday in a 31-7 home loss to the New York Giants.

        Brown bruised a shoulder against the Giants, and coach Dave McGinnis said it was likely Greisen, who took snaps with the second unit, would be the No. 2 quarterback against the Bengals.

        Greisen, a seventh-round draft pick in 1999, was inactive for 12 games in his rookie year and the first 11 this year. He has thrown a total of nine passes in three games, but McGinnis said it made no sense to have the least healthy player (Brown) suit up.

        “He couldn't hand off with his left arm,” McGinnis said about Brown's practice. “He couldn't extend it and shove it out there, so his left shoulder is still bothering him.”

        By contrast, Plummer seemed rejuvenated.

        “He was twisting and throwing and doing all kinds of things today,” McGinnis said. “He wasn't breakdancing out there, but he was able to throw it.”

        But Plummer, whose quarterback rating (69.5) was 29th in the NFL this week after throwing 15 interceptions and just 10 touchdown passes, also showed the effects of not practicing last week.

        “He doesn't have zip on the ball, because he really can't turn his body that way and throw hard. He still has pain in the ribs, but he's out there working, and we all appreciate that,” running back Michael Pittman said.

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