DaytonDailyNews.com

CINCINNATI — Are the Cincinnati Bengals preparing for life without wide receiver Chris Henry?

From the look of things Sunday and the sound of things Monday, it sure appears that way.

NFL teams consist of 53 players, but only 45 are activated for games. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis selected four wideouts — starters Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and backups Kelley Washington and Antonio Chatman — to play in Sunday's 38-13 home loss to New England.

Lewis sat Henry, who caught two touchdown passes in a 28-20 victory at Pittsburgh, then got caught riding with suspended linebacker Odell Thurman, who was arrested for drunken driving.

Henry has been arrested four times since December. On Monday, Lewis didn't refer to Henry's off-the-field behavior. The coach pointed his comments to Henry's on-the-field demeanor.

"I didn't have anybody taunting, getting into anybody's face or anything like that," Lewis said. "I had guys doing it the way they're asked to do it. I didn't have to worry about a guy taking off his helmet on the field. That's a key thing.

"Those are things we've got to continue to get straight all the time ... the poise that we talk about as professionals. I've got to know who I can count on when I can count on 'em."

Lewis said it's important the players understand the concept that "this isn't about 'me.' This is about our team, and let's make sure we always do it right. I've got to continually work to get that across to our players."

Henry wasn't available during the media's open locker room, and his agent, John D. Frederickson, didn't immediately return a telephone call.

Asked if Henry understands the message, Lewis said: "I'm not singling out Chris. I only get a chance to dress 45 guys. We need to make plays on special teams. Antonio gives us an opportunity to do that. Down the line, we could have some tough decisions on who's going to get suited up — and that's a good thing."