By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

This touchdown catch by Bengals receiver Danny Farmer sent last year's Pittsburgh game into overtime. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Wide receiver Danny Farmer will play Sunday against the Steelers. Bengals coach Dick LeBeau made the announcement after Friday's walkthrough.

"He is going to play," said LeBeau, who added that he has yet to decide if the Bengals will have five or six receivers active for the game.

Farmer has been recovering from a knee injury suffered in the season opener.

If the Bengals go with only five receivers, one of the other five - Peter Warrick, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Ron Dugans or Michael Westbrook - will end up in street clothes for the game.

If the Bengals employ the multi-receiver sets that worked effectively in their last Steelers game, look for all six to be activated.

SIMMONS PRACTICES: Middle linebacker Brian Simmons, who is trying to recover from an aggravated neck stinger, practiced Friday and is likely to play Sunday, LeBeau said.

Simmons' loss would be a dramatic blow to a Bengals defense that is struggling to regain its 2001 form.

Starting cornerback Artrell Hawkins and right tackle Willie Anderson, who have battled injuries this week, also are expected to play.

UH-OH AND 5: Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna talked this week of a 10-1 Bengals finish that would give them a 10-6 record and a playoff berth.

The trouble is, no 0-5 team has reached the playoffs in NFL history.

Defending NFC champion St. Louis is the league's only other 0-5 team this year. Minnesota, which had a bye last week, is 0-4.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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