Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said on Monday that Johnson would be in Cincinnati to discuss a limited role - fourth-string running back, essentially an insurance policy in case Cedric Benson's hip injury gets worse or another running back gets hurt.
It's a very low-profile role.
"That's what his role would be, it would be as a fourth running back and an opportunity as a backup player on this football team doing all the things backup players do, and that's work their tails off in the kicking game and showing looks (on the scout team) and so forth that way," Lewis said. "And then he would be an insurance policy if something would happen down the line to one of our guys where he'd have a chance to be active.
"But I couldn't foresee him being active when he was initially here, if this is what happens. And that's what I've told him."
Lewis said the interest in Johnson is unrelated to Benson's injury. Benson, who is one of the NFL's top running backs, strained a hip muscle and couldn't finish an 18-12 win in Pittsburgh on Sunday that left the Bengals (7-2) in control of the AFC North.
Benson is expected to practice on a limited basis this week. Lewis said there's a chance he could play Sunday in Oakland.
Johnson turns 30 on Thursday and is coming off several years of decline. He also created controversies while with the Kansas City Chiefs, who released him last week on the day he was due back from his second suspension in the last 12 months.
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