CINCINNATI -- Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and three other players were sent home early from Paul Brown Stadium on Wednesday because of an illness, but head coach Marvin Lewis expressed no concern that they won't be ready for Sunday's AFC North title matchup at Pittsburgh.
Safety Reggie Nelson, tight end Jermaine Gresham and cornerback Terence Newman were all out sick on Wednesday as the Bengals got in their first day of preparation for the Steelers. The Bengals are coming off a 38-27 win against Denver on Monday night, giving them a short work week on top of things.
"He's got the flu...like a lot of us," said Lewis.
This is not the first time Dalton has been ill leading up to a game this season. He got sick the Saturday night prior to the Bengals playing at Tampa Bay on Nov. 30. He threw for just 62 yards and was intercepted three times in the first half of that game but rebounded in the second half to complete 12 of 16 passes for 114 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in a 14-13 win.
Wide receiver A.J. Green also did not practice Wednesday after suffering a bruise to his right biceps against the Broncos. Green said after Monday's game that he was hopeful of playing against the Steelers. Lewis said on Wednesday that Green was progressing towards that goal.
Green had 11 catches for a career-high 224 yards and one touchdown when the Bengals and Steelers played on Dec. 7. Green's 81-yard touchdown from Dalton gave the Bengals a 21-17 lead at the end of the third quarter. Pittsburgh scored the final 25 points of the game, however, to win 42-21.
The Bengals were also without backup linebacker Chris Carter (knee) and defensive end Wallace Gilberry (hamstring). Cornerback Darqueze Dennard, linebacker Emmanuel Lamur (hamstring) and wide receiver James Wright (knee) all practiced on a limited basis.
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