Bengals Notebook: DE Carlos Dunlap likely shelved for Monday

With preparations for Baltimore winding down it appears DE Carlos Dunlap's knee won't be healthy enough for the Bengals' opener. Also, notes on BenJarvus Green-Ellis, ticket sales and facing former teammate Bobbie Williams.

By Paul Dehner Jr.

Sep 7, 2012 at 3:24 pm ET • 2 min read

Judging by coach Marvin Lewis' history in dealing with injuries, expect DE Carlos Dunlap to sit out Monday night against Baltimore.

Dunlap worked on the side for the third consecutive day Friday and hasn't practiced since spraining his knee in the first preseason game. Under Lewis, When a player doesn't take part in either of the two primary practices leading up to a game, they don't play.

Lewis admitted Dunlap's on pace with his rehab schedule. The timetable looks more and more like a debut in the home opener against Cleveland on Sept. 16.

In his place, Robert Geathers should start. He missed the entire preseason himself with a knee injury, but was a full participant in practice this week.

Chasing a sellout: The Bengals have not yet sold out the home opener against Cleveland, but announced Thursday “several thousand” tickets remain and they are within striking distance of filling the stadium.

Cincinnati only saw 43,363 for the home opener against San Francisco last year. Paul Brown Stadium seats 65,000. Only a game against Pittsburgh and late season buy one, get one free ticket offer provided sellouts last year.

The team saw a spike in sales since the Wednesday night opener and plans to keep the ticket offices open over the weekend in an attempt to post a sellout.

Green-Ellis expecting the ball: BenJarvus Green-Ellis will make his Bengals debut Monday night against the Ravens. The team will be thrilled he's out there.

RB Bernard Scott (hand), expected to share the backfield-by-committee role this season will miss the opener. In his place, Green-Ellis will be asked to handle the rushing duty. That could mean handling 20 carries, which he did only twice last season. In fact, Green-Ellis hasn't rushed more than 15 times in any of his last nine games.

This comes after a preseson where he missed the final three games with a foot injury. He's healthy now and dismisses any concerns about his lack of game repetitions with QB Andy Dalton and the first team.

“It’s not like last season where we didn’t have OTAs and minicamp and those things,” he said. “Also you think about the countless number of times we went out there and threw the ball when it wasn’t OTA or minicamp. I think our timing is pretty good. We just have to go out there and continue to perfect it and get ready for Monday night.”

Preparing for Bobbie: The last seven years OL Bobbie Williams became one of the core leaders inside the Bengals locker room. In Monday's season opener he'll be lined up on the opposing side.

It will be a strange sight, indeed, for members of the Bengals defensive line to go against a player who helped show them the ropes in the league. DT Domata Peko said Williams escorted him around the city and helped find his first house upon being drafted by the Bengals.

Peko spent many hot camp practices battling against the 345-pound Williams and knows what kind of battle he's in store for in Baltimore.

“I know what to expect of him,” Peko said. “He’s a big guy. He’s a big, big guy. He’s strong at the point of attack. He always goes hard and it’s going to be a battle. I know some of his tendencies and he knows some of mine.”