Simpson has breakout game in Bengals’ loss

From staff report
Published: August 18, 2008

Cincinnati Bengals’ head coach Marvin Lewis has been waiting all training camp for someone to step up and assume the role of the team’s No. 3 wide receiver. He may have found his man in former Reidsville wide receiver Jerome Simpson.
In Sunday night’s 27-10 loss to the Detroit Lions, Simpson had five catches for 114 yards – including 42 of the game’s final play, a ‘Hail Mary’ pass from quarterback Jeff Rowe.
With three seconds left in the game, Rowe let fly a last ditch touchdown effort that Simp-son hauled in among several Cincinnati (1-1) and Detroit (2-0) players. He fell to the ground at the Lions’ six-yard line with no time left on the game clock.
Bengal wide receiver T.J. Housmandzadeh was already sidelined and did not play when pro-bowler Chad Johnson went down with a shoulder injury. Johnson, who could be out as many as three weeks, left the game in the first quarter, leaving Lewis with an inexperi-enced group of wideouts to finish the game.
Simpson’s catches and yards led all receivers in the game. Marcus Maxwell and Antonio Chatman each had three receptions for the Bengals. Simpson, Maxwell, Chatman and Andre Caldwell are all vying for the team’s No. 3 spot behind Johnson and Houshmandzadeh.
When asked if he was concerned about the depth at WR with his top two guys injured, Lewis answered after the game, “Well, we’ve got some guys injured, but the good thing is that it allows more play for Jerome (Simpson). Again, he seemed to be a bright spot. Every time we turn on the lights, he comes through and makes some good plays. We’ve just got to keep feeding him the ball and get him to understand more responsibilities, where to get him lined up at, and let him keep growing. I think he did a nice job tonight.”
In Cincinnati’s two preseason games, Simpson has six receptions for 127 yards, but no touchdowns.
The Bengals are back in action against the New Orleans Saints (1-1) Saturday night.
Game time is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. Cincinnati closes out the preseason on Aug. 28 at the Indianapolis Colts.