By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals practiced Thursday afternoon and will begin a three-day break today.

Coach Marvin Lewis gave the team today, Saturday and Sunday off before having them return to work Monday morning.

The Bengals have their bye week this weekend and are 1-4.

Lewis said he worked in non-regular players into the practice rotation and rested some of his "older guys." He said the tone of the Wednesday and Thursday practices were more like training camp, without preparing for a specific opponent.

"We are in good health - knock on wood - and we have to keep that up," Lewis said. "The guys have worked hard to stay in good health, and we have to continue that throughout the next two weeks."

The Bengals play again Oct. 19 at home against Baltimore.

T.J.'S BACK: Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh has missed the first five games with a hamstring injury. He is expected to play against the Ravens.

"I'm fortunate to be here because I haven't played at all," he said. "I just want to make coach Lewis look good for keeping me around."

Houshmandzadeh had 41 receptions for 492 yards and one touchdown last season. Kelley Washington and Lawrence Hamilton filled in as the Bengals' third and fourth receivers.

CHA-CHING: The NFL has fined wide receiver Chad Johnson for the third time this season.

Johnson and fellow wide receiver Peter Warrick were each fined $5,000 by the league for their "photo shoot" celebration after a touchdown in Cleveland on Sept. 28.

The fine was doled out for performing a premeditated celebration. Johnson's other two fines were for equipment violations involving towels he tucked into his waistband.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com