"Cincinnati Bengals starting running back Cedric Benson looks as if he will avoid an NFL suspension this week and will play Sunday against the Bills.

Benson was arrested over the summer in Texas and charged with assaulting a former roommate. The NFL suspended him for three games for violating its personal conduct policy, and the sanction was supposed to start this week. But Benson appealed the suspension, which is being considered. Benson told reporters Wednesday he will be playing this week.

Cincinnati is mostly healthy this week. Starting defensive end Robert Geathers, who missed the past two weeks with a shoulder injury, returned to practice Wednesday. Starting safety Chris Crocker missed practice, but his absence was not injury related."