PLAYER NOTES

--LB Corey Mays (ankle) did not practice Thursday and is likely to miss the Texans game.

--K Shayne Graham (right groin, kicking leg) participated fully in practice Thursday and will kick Sunday at Houston.

--CB Jamar Fletcher (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday and Thursday and is expected to miss the Texans game Sunday.

--TE Ben Utecht (chest) was limited Wednesday and Thursday.

--WR Glenn Holt (ankle) is practicing fully and will return kickoffs Sunday.

--WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (ankle) did not practice Wednesday but participated fully Thursday.

--CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle) did not practice Wednesday but was limited Thursday. He is expected to start Sunday.

--LB Dhani Jones (foot) did not practice Wednesday but had full participation Thursday. He is expected to start Sunday.

--TE Nate Lawrie (back) was limited Thursday in practice.

--CB David Jones (knee) did not practice Wednesday but was able to participate in limited fashion Thursday.

--S Kyries Hebert (ankle) did not practice Wednesday but was able to participate in limited fashion Thursday.

--WR Antonio Chatman (ankle) did not practice Thursday.

--WR Jerome Simpson (ankle) did not practice Thursday.

--DE Frostee Rucker (shoulder) was limited in practice Wednesday but did not practice Thursday.

--FB Reagan Maui'a (hamstring) was added Thursday to the injury report as limited in practice.

GAME PLAN: As is the case every week, the Bengals would like to run the ball. They might be able to get in a shootout with the Texans, who are 31st in league rankings in points allowed at 29.8 a game. The Bengals typically win when they force turnovers defensively or on special teams. Houston is vulnerable, with a minus-9 turnover differential, tied for last in the NFL. The Texans are a better home team at 2-1, compared to 0-3 on the road. They are coming off consecutive victories at Reliant Stadium over Miami and Detroit.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Bengals RB Cedric Benson vs. Texans rush defense. The Bengals should be able to run -- at least they should try -- against the Houston defense, which is ranked 22nd at 122 yards a game. Cedric Benson is expected to get his second start for the Bengals. With several high-round draft picks on defense, Texans coordinator Richard Smith is under fire for the defense's No. 22 overall rating. The Bengals should be able to establish the run against Houston, which would reduce pressure on the pass game. They are the NFL's worst red-zone defense, having allowed 15 touchdowns in 16 opponent possessions inside the 20-yard line (93.8 percent).

--Texans RB Steve Slaton vs. Bengals run defense. Houston is healthy offensively for the first time in many years and has received an immediate boost from rookie running back Steve Slaton, from West Virginia. A third-round draft pick, No. 89 overall, Slaton has rushed 89 times for 423 yards (4.8 yard average) and four touchdowns; he has one touchdown receiving. He has a long of 50 yards. Backup Ahman Green is healthy, too, and has a 4.6-yard average on 39 attempts and one touchdown.

INJURY IMPACT: Special teams could be affected by the number of players, such as Hebert, Jones and Lawrie, iffy for the Texans game because of injuries that prevented them from practicing Wednesday.