Simpson could see playing time with recent Henry injury

Despite being inactive for the first seven games of the season, Cincinnati wide receiver Jerome Simpson could be a position to see some snaps as the Bengals (6-2) get ready to travel to Pittsburgh (6-2) in a battle for first place.
Simpson, a standout wide receiver at Coastal Carolina and Reidsville High School, was a second-round draft pick by the Bengals prior to last season.
However, Simpson played in eights games last season and finished with one reception and one kickoff return after a sparkling preseason in which he led the team in receptions, receiving yards and yards from scrimmage.
Wide receiver Chris Henry, who is in his second tour with the Bengals, was injured and lost for the season in the team’s 17-7 win over Baltimore on Sunday. Henry had surgery on his arm and was placed on injured reserve.
According to http://www.bengals.com - the team’s official website, Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis said during his weekly press conference on Monday that Reidsville native will get an opportunity if he performs well.
“We’ll make the decision at some point,” said Lewis on who will take Henry’s place this week. “We’ll give Jerome a good opportunity to see whether or not he can be the guy we can count on.”
Simpson played in all four preseason games and caught four passes, but was inactive and did not dress for the first seven games where the Bengals went 5-2. Last week’s win over the Ravens, coupled with the Steelers’ win at Denver Monday night sets up a first-place showdown in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
“We’ll look at the best options, because with that, it’s a matter of who can I get the most snaps out of on Sunday. That’s the important part,” added Lewis.
Ironically, Simpson’s one reception and kick return last season came against the Steelers – a 38-10 Cincinnati loss.
Henry was brought back into Cincinnati although the Bengals drafted Simpson and Andre Caldwell (University of Florida) last April and then signed and Maurice Purify (Nebraska) in May. Following the departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh to Seattle in the off season, the Bengals countered with signing free agent wide receiver Laveranues Coles – a former New York Jet – as well as drafting Quan Cosby (Texas) in April.
Sunday’s game kicks off at 1 p.m. and may be shown nationally on CBS.