Bengals WR Johnson deactivated for Pittsburgh game

Nov 20, 2008 - 6:06 PM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson has been deactivated for Thursday's game at Pittsburgh for violation of a team rule.

The Bengals gave no specifics in announcing the decision Thursday morning, only stating that the team will have no further comment until after the game.

However, several media outlets in Cincinnati have reported Johnson overslept an 8:30 p.m. meeting on Wednesday.

Johnson, who had played in 113 consecutive games for the Bengals (1-8-1), has 41 catches for 383 yards and is tied for the team lead with four touchdown receptions.

This is the latest chapter in the five-time Pro Bowler's tenuous relationship with the struggling franchise.

Johnson made no secret of his frustration with the organization during the offseason and demanded to be traded in April, adding that he would not report to any team functions. He even threatened to sit out the entire 2008 season at one point, drawing criticism from his teammates, fans and the local media.

But after head coach Marv Lewis declared that Johnson would not be dealt, the attention-craving wide receiver changed his tune and attended Bengals minicamp in June. Later that month, the 30-year-old underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle.

While the two-time All Pro did attend the team's training camp in late July, his surgically-repaired ankle did not allow him to practice immediately.

He suffered another setback in the Bengals second preseason game against Detroit when he landed awkwardly and temporarily dislocated his left shoulder.

Johnson was back in the starting lineup when the team opened the season against Baltimore, but days before the game he made headlines again when he announced that he was legally changing his name to Chad Ocho Cinco - a reference in Spanish to his jersey No. 85.

The attention-getting antics of Johnson have never been popular with Lewis, who at one point during the offseason referred to the receiver as "Ocho Psycho."

Since the name change, Johnson had kept a relatively low profile.

Selected in the second round of the 2001 draft by Cincinnati, Johnson's chances of a seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season appear all but over.

Chris Henry is the likely replacement for Johnson in the starting lineup Thursday, opposite wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

The Bengals already were down one receiver as Antonio Chatman was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list Wednesday with a back injury.