Ailing Bengals Star Johnson Can't Practice; Ankle Woes Slow Receiver

Cincinnati, Ohio (AHN) - While Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson continues to show up for practice, his ankle keeps him on the sidelines, rather than the field.

Johnson reportedly warmed up with the team Monday, but ran with a pronounced limp.

He then headed to the trainer's room for a rehabilitation session.

"We knew when he came in to do his physical that he was not quite where he needs to be," Bengals Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski told ESPN. "He'll go through certain phases of rehabilitation and conditioning and when they feel he's at a point where he's strong enough and back to where he can go full-speed, he'll be on the field."

Johnson had some problems in the off-season, both contractual and medical. He had some bone spurs in his right ankle that had to be removed - so far, he's still on the mend.

Johnson, 30, is arguably the most powerful weapon the Bengals offense can put to the field.

He holds the franchise record for just about everything a wide receiver can: most receiving yards in a game, a season, and a career, receptions, seasons over 1,000 receiving yards, and touchdown receptions in a game.

And while the franchise doesn't commemorate it, he most likely holds the franchise record for being fined the most of any player.

His stunts are vast and wide, including changing his name to "Ocho-Cinco" on the back of his jersey (netting him a $5,000 fine from the NFL), to proposing to a Bengals cheerleader who mock accepted after a touchdown.