RealGM

When: 6 p.m. Thursday.

Where: Paul Brown Stadium

Broadcast: Television - Channel 4. Radio - AM-620.

Injury report: Packers - WR Shaky Smithson (ankle), RB Du'ane Bennett (knee), CB Davon House (shoulder), Brandon Saine (hamstring), FB Jon Hoese (hamstring), RB James Starks (turf toe), LB Desmond Bishop (hamstring), LB Frank Zombo (hamstring), DE Johnny Jones (knee), OG Ray Dominguez (ankle), OT Derek Sherrod (leg), TE Andrew Quarless (knee) are out; TE D.J. Williams (ankle) and TE DeMarco Cosby (hamstring) are questionable. Bengals - LB Rey Maualuga (knee), DE Robert Geathers (knee), RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (foot), CB Jason Allen (undisclosed), CB Adam Jones (undisclosed), TE Jermaine Gresham (knee), S Tony Dye (foot) and DE Carlos Dunlap (knee) may not play.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

BACK TO WORK: WR Greg Jennings and TE Jermichael Finley have not played in either of the first two exhibition games due to injury and need to get their timing back with QB Aaron Rodgers. Expect them to see a significant amount of time provided their conditioning is intact.

BACKED UP: After watching Herb Taylor and Andrew Datko fail at protecting the quarterback as a backup to Marshall Newhouse, the club signed veteran Reggie Wells. Now it's his turn to see if he can help solidify the backup spot. He'll get a lot of time playing with the No. 2s with Datko out with a concussion.

HOME GROWN: It should be a fun night for running back Cedric Benson, whose first game as a Packer will be against his former team, the Bengals. But don't think Cincinnati defenders won't know some of Benson's weaknesses. After watching him stripped of the ball 12 times the last two years, don't be surprised if they're ball hawks Thursday night.

STARTING OUT: Jarrett Bush has a chance to lock up the right cornerback spot with a strong performance. After Davon House appeared to have the job in hand, Bush got it back when House suffered a dislocated shoulder. Bush is back at the starting spot with Sam Shields and Casey Hayward close on his heels. House probably won't be back until a week or two into the regular season.

SHORT CUTS: Don't expect backup quarterback Graham Harrell to get the kind of playing time he got last week against Cleveland. Aaron Rodgers will play about a half, although it's possible coach Mike McCarthy will give Harrell a series with the starters. He needs to get the team into the end zone after a poor performance last week.

Tom Silverstein

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:I'm hoping to get home in time to watch most if not all of this game since I have missed the first two.

rilamann wrote:The one thing that the Packers pre-season makes me realize year after year is how God Awful Rich Gannon is as an announcer.

He is literally the one of the worst announcers (IMO) that I have had the dis-pleasure of listening to in my 20+ years as a sports fan.

MadCityBucky wrote:Was looking forward to seeing Finley finally, oh well. Hope the backup offense doesn't look like crap again

Marley2Hendrix wrote:

MadCityBucky wrote:Was looking forward to seeing Finley finally, oh well. Hope the backup offense doesn't look like crap again

and DJ Williams. Bummed, but moar balls for the receivers??? (probably more crabapple action)

Re: Wilde, Wilde gonna wilde. I've settled on only following Dunne, McGinn, WesHod (gazette) and Nagler (hardest to follow) between them I get all of the requisite coverage through RT's without the over saturation. Demovsky/Wilde/Silverstein = too douchey for this man's taste.

Wilford Brimley wrote:Also, you guys are misinformed regarding Trenni. I'd plow.

Newz wrote:

Wilford Brimley wrote:Also, you guys are misinformed regarding Trenni. I'd plow.

I bet Ced Bed has already hit that.

Newz wrote:The size.