Bengals coach to decide Henry's status Sunday

CINCINNATI -- Chris Henry practiced Wednesday with the Cincinnati Bengals, who remain noncommittal about whether the wayward receiver will be added to the roster for the next game.

Henry was benched by the Bengals for one game and suspended by the NFL for two more. He's eligible to play Sunday against Atlanta, a decision that is up to coach Marvin Lewis.

"We'll make a decision on Sunday," Lewis said.

The Bengals (4-2) could use him Sunday because their receiving corps is thinning by injuries. Tab Perry is out for the season with a hip injury, Kelley Washington is out with a pulled hamstring and Antonio Chatman is questionable with a groin injury.

The Bengals have struggled in their three games without Henry, who distracts defenses from Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Bengals have gone 1-2 while scoring 13, 13 and 17 points without Henry, who again declined interviews Wednesday.

"He's one of the best playmakers we have on this team, including Chad Johnson and Chris Perry and all of the guys," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "He consistently makes big plays, consistently beats people and consistently runs by people.

Chris Henry hopes coach Lewis gives him the OK to play on Sunday. (Getty Images)

Henry has been arrested four times since last December. He has pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and a gun charge, and has two other cases pending. The league suspended him for the last two games for violating its conduct and substance abuse policies.

Lewis is quickly losing patience with players that get in trouble. Six Bengals have been arrested this year, and Henry and middle linebacker Odell Thurman have been suspended by the league.

"I hope he has learned his lesson and is on the straight and narrow path from here on out," Palmer said. "You can tell he's been a little bit down, that he's been sitting out and hasn't been happy about it.

"I think he's learned his lesson, and I just hope he's back and back for good."

The Bengals are so short-handed at the position that they had Peter Warrick work out for them on Tuesday. Warrick was Cincinnati's first-round pick in 2000.

"We didn't bring Peter in to necessarily sign him this week," Lewis said.