Rookie wide receiver Chad Johnson, who broke his collarbone Oct.14 against Cleveland, said Monday he wants to play Sunday at Jacksonville, despite advice from cousins Keyshawn Johnson and Samari Rolle to wait until he is completely healed.

        “They've got to let me go,” said Johnson, who took four calcium pills a day to try to speed the healing process. “They're going to have to fine me. Something's going to give. It's been boring in the stands. It's been boring on TV.”

        Johnson had 12 catches in three games before the injury, and was quarterback Jon Kitna's go-to receiver on third down.

        The Bengals want to make sure Johnson isn't returning too soon and risking further injury. He had a CT scan on Monday to check on his progress.

        “Everything is in good position,” trainer Paul Sparling said of Johnson's collarbone. “He's doing great.”

        Coach Dick LeBeau has heard Johnson's plea for playing time the past few days.

        “He's been working on me pretty steadily,” LeBeau said. “But I look at that as a positive thing. We want him to be able to continue his growth. It was starting to show pretty strongly when he went down.”

Brown defers credit for Bengals' turnaround WR Johnson raring to return Dillon on ESPN, Fox shows Bengals talking playoffs Bengals let prep games in DAUGHERTY: Bengals aren't the bad guys

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