By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

For the second time in the past three games - including last year's season finale at Buffalo - a Bengals player will face his brother.

Bengals linebacker Riall Johnson will be on the field Sunday in Oakland against younger brother Teyo Johnson, a Raiders tight end.

Teyo Johnson was Oakland's second-round draft pick in April and made his NFL debut Sunday night at Tennessee.

"I'll probably have to cover him, and I'll probably get him on special teams," Riall Johnson said Wednesday.

The family is from Lynwood, Wash., and Riall Johnson said he expects some 40 relatives to attend.

"You're going to see a lot of half-Raider, half-Bengal stuff," he said. "People in Bengals caps and Raiders jerseys."

Teyo Johnson, 21, also won two letters as a starting power forward on Stanford's basketball team.

On Dec. 29, Bengals tight end Matt Schobel lined up in Buffalo against his older brother, Aaron Schobel, a Bills defensive end.

INJURY UPDATE: Linebacker Brian Simmons (rib cage) and right offensive tackle Willie Anderson (hamstring) are both listed as probable for Sunday's game.

Anderson did not practice Wednesday, but Simmons did participate in full pads.

Raiders safety Rod Woodson is out after undergoing surgery Monday night to repair a meniscus tear.

Oakland coach Bill Callahan also said wide receiver Jerry Porter (abdominal) will be downgraded to doubtful today.

Also for the Bengals, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (hamstring), tailback Rudi Johnson (thigh) and guard Victor Leyva (chest muscles) are out.

CONSENSUS: Like many coaches around the league, Callahan said he likes Marvin Lewis' work so far with the Bengals.

"I see a lot of positive direction in terms of how they're setting their standards and how they're laying out their progression," Callahan said Wednesday. "You see that enacted in their system, you see a philosophy that's very sound. It's systems that winning teams operate with. Obviously, Marvin will get the players he wants in the next few years, and I see a real opportunity to really improve."

TRYOUT: Former Bengals kicker Neil Rackers visited Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday to try out for the job of Tennessee Titans kicker, which eventually went to veteran Gary Anderson.

Brett Conway also was looked at as a replacement for Titans kicker Joe Nedney, who is out for the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament Sunday night against the Raiders.

Rackers was scheduled to have surgery on his left knee Tuesday but received a second opinion. It was decided the injury was no longer a great concern. He arrived in Nashville on Tuesday night and kicked Wednesday, but Anderson and the club agreed to terms later Wednesday.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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