Quarterback Gus Frerotte's sprained right thumb has healed enough to let him throw Wednesday at practice, and he says he will play Sunday at Cleveland.

        “It's good,” he said. “It's a little swollen, but it will be fine.”

        While the Bengals' quarterback situation is settled, the Browns still aren't sure who will play Sunday, Tim Couch or Kelly Holcomb.

        Browns coach Butch Davis said Wednesday that Couch is on a throwing program to repair torn scar tissue in his right elbow.

        “We'll continue throughout the course of the week to prep (Couch) in practice with the idea that he's certainly trying to move toward the possibility of becoming the starter again by Sunday,” Davis said. “But until he proves he's 100 percent, we'll continue to prep Kelly Holcomb.”

        Couch is listed as probable for the Bengals, but Holcomb's performance Sunday in the loss to the Chiefs gives Davis more confidence in his backup quarterback.

        Holcomb was 27-for-39 passing for 326 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

        FARMER LOST: Wide receiver Danny Farmer will miss three to five weeks after suffering a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

        Farmer twisted and landed hard on his left leg during one-on-one drills early in Wednesday's practice.

        Trainer Paul Sparling said surgery is not needed and that Farmer will heal by rest and rehabilitation. Farmer probably will be ready to return for the Tennessee game Oct. 27, a week after the Bengals' bye week.

        MISSING IN ACTION: Starting tight end Sean Brewer played six plays Sunday and backup Matt Schobel three. They were in a two-tight end formation twice, so the team had a true tight end on the field for seven plays.

        Rookie left tackle Levi Jones started as a second tight end, lining up outside right tackle Willie Anderson.

        “Whatever is best for the team, so be it,” Brewer said. “But, yeah, I was a little bit upset because they didn't think we were doing it.”

        Brewer said he expects the tight ends to play more of a role in the Browns game.

        “It was an unusual game,” Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said of 34-6 loss to San Diego. “We got behind, so we went to a lot of spread formations that don't include a tight end. But that's one thing that will change.”

Bengals back off major changes Thumb won't stop Frerotte Farmer out at least 3 weeks Browns star calls Couch on carpet Couch has doubts about playing against Bengals NFL injury report Unitas helped launch NFL success Louisville remembers Unitas Buchanan, Moore suspended for substance abuse Heisman Trophy winner Crouch to retire

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