By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Patrick Johnson was expected to be a key special teams contributor before breaking bones in his hand against the Falcons on Saturday. The Enquirer/Steven M. Herppich

Bengals coaches did not decide five of the nine roster moves Monday.

Doctors did.

The club placed four players on the Injured Reserve list, ending their seasons.

As expected, the Bengals put cornerback Dennis Weathersby (car crash) on the reserve/non-football injury list.

The Bengals waived four others to reach the 65-player roster deadline, which is 5 p.m. today. Teams have to cut to 53 by 5 p.m. Sunday.

The four placements on IR are one more than the club had in all of 2003. The Bengals put just three players on Injured Reserve and were the last team in the NFL to lose a player for the season to injury.

ROSTER MOVES

The Bengals reached the 65-player roster limit Monday by making nine roster moves. Players waived: Running back Herbert Goodman; tight end Chad Hayes; cornerback Alvin Porter; safety Wendell Williams. Players on Injured Reserve: Linebacker Khalid Abdullah (dislocated ankle); linebacker Frank Chamberlin (biceps tear); wide receiver Patrick Johnson (broken bones in hand); punter Kyle Richardson (biceps tear). The Bengals also placed cornerback Dennis Weathersby (car crash) on the reserve/non-football injury list. —Mark Curnutte

It wasn't until Dec. 9 that the Bengals placed offensive lineman Matt O'Dwyer and linebacker Dwayne Levels on the list. Linebacker Arian Ross went on the IR Dec. 22.

"Last year we were very fortunate, and this year we're getting our share," coach Marvin Lewis said of the injuries. "That's part of it. It all evens out, and I knew at some point this was going to occur."

Three of the injured players were key reserves and potential starters on special teams units: linebackers Frank Chamberlin (torn biceps) and Khalid Abdullah (fractured ankle) and wide receiver Patrick Johnson (broken bones in hand).

Chamberlin and Johnson were injured in the game Saturday night at Atlanta.

"I know you have to play full speed, and our guys who have had the injuries, those have been things you can't prevent," Lewis said. "They've happened tackling, blocking, catching balls."

The Bengals did see wide receiver Peter Warrick return to practice Monday. Warrick said he would play in the preseason finale Friday night against the Colts.

Incumbent punter Kyle Richardson (torn biceps) went on IR on Monday after getting injured making a tackle in the preseason opener at Tampa Bay. Lewis did not give rookie punter Kyle Larson an endorsement Monday.

Said Lewis: "We have to get a lot better in our punting game."

Punter and linebacker are two major areas of concern.

Starting weak-side linebacker Brian Simmons underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Monday but is expected to return in time for the regular-season opener Sept. 12 at the Jets.

The Bengals had just five healthy linebackers practice Monday—and three were rookies, draft picks Caleb Miller and Landon Johnson and free agent Larry Stevens.

Don't be surprised if the Bengals sign a veteran linebacker—keep Kevin Mitchell in mind.

The Redskins waived Mitchell on Sunday. He played for Lewis, then Washington's defensive coordinator, in 2002.

Higher-priced players might not be affordable because the Bengals are tight on the salary cap, Lewis said.

"Well, there are going to be some guys out there who have played fine football in the National Football League," he said. "The injuries we have already had could prevent us from doing some things that maybe you might have had more flexibility to do—had you not had this number of guys you may eventually lose for the season."

The standard NFL contract requires teams to pay full salaries to players on IR, and that money counts on the salary cap, a league spokesman said Monday.

Abdullah, Chamberlin and Johnson were all key role players.

"The unfortunate thing is that a lot of our role players have gotten hurt this summer, so that makes you rely a little more heavily on some of the draft picks," Lewis said. "We got a chance right away to see some of the young guys get in the (Atlanta) game and play considerable time."

One of the draft picks likely to see a lot of playing time is Miller.

"We've got to have guys step up, even if they're young," starting middle linebacker Nate Webster said.

Landon Johnson, another rookie linebacker, returned to practice Monday and might also play against the Colts. He has had problems with his shoulder sockets.

"Right now," Lewis said, "we're a banged-up ship."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com