Richard Skinner

rskinner@nky.com

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is hoping the third time he plays an NFL game in the area in which he grew up will be the charm when he and the Bengals play at the Houston Texans this Sunday.

Dalton, who grew up in the Greater Houston city of Katy, Texas, is 0-3 in his career as a starter against the Texans, including playoff losses in Houston in both 2012 and 2013.

As Bengals fans know full well, Dalton struggled in those two games, completing just 41 of 72 passes (57.0 percent) for 384 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions. He hasn't forgotten those two performances.

"Obviously when you go home, you want to play well, you want to get a win and all that kind of stuff," said Dalton. "You know, losing in the playoffs a couple times there, it still does sit with you."

Dalton now lives in Ft. Worth, Texas, but his family and many friends still live in the Greater Houston area.

"We'll be close to my parents' house this time (where the Bengals are staying), but with the timing of everything, I won't be able to go over there, so just grabbing dinner, seeing some people," said Dalton. "There's a lot of people that watched me grow up and watched me play growing up, too, so it'll be fun for everybody to get to see me play."

MCCARRON PARTICIPATES IN FIRST PRACTICE: Rookie quarterback A.J. McCarron practiced for the first time on Wednesday since being drafted.

The fifth-round pick from Alabama was cleared by the team on Tuesday after he had been on the reserve/non-football injury list since Aug. 30 due to a shoulder problem from college.

He doesn't count toward the 53-man roster limit and beginning with Tuesday's move the Bengals have 21 days before they have to either place him on the 53-man roster, release him or place him on season-ending injured reserve.

McCarron admitted before practice that it had been hard to sit out.

"I've been playing football since the age of three," said McCarron. "I've never had to sit out for a long period of time so that definitely was hard, but I was worrying about the things I could control each day working with Nick (Cosgray, the team's director of rehabilitation) trying to get better and sharpening my skills. When I get my shot make it happen."

That shot won't come this season unless either Dalton or backup Jason Campbell suffers an injury inside the 21-day window.

McCarron said both Dalton and Campbell have been helpful.

"Anytime being a young QB coming into the NFL it's almost better to sit back and learn because you don't have to go through as many rough patches as you would being thrown into the fire," he said. "You get to learn in a different way. It's been different playing for so long in college but I feel like I've learned a ton. Those two older guys have helped me out tremendously."

McCarron was extremely rusty during the 30-minute time media is allowed to watch practice, overthrowing receivers badly three times.

NEWNESS OF HOUSTON QB PROBLEMATIC: While Lewis is aware of Houston quarterback Ryan Mallett's skills set from evaluating him while he was in college at Arkansas he admits it's hard to get a read on what Mallett will consistently do in games because the first start of his four-year NFL career came this past Sunday in Cleveland. Mallett did complete 20 of 30 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and only one interception in helping the Texans to a 23-7 win.

"They were a little different last week against Cleveland than they were when Ryan (Fitzpatrick) was playing quarterback for them," said Lewis. "We're going to have to, you know, see what the day brings and adjust on the move. That's part of NFL football each and every week. He's not had a lot of playing time other than the preseasons."

Mallett was taken in the third round of the 2011 draft by the New England Patriots and played in just four games and threw only four passes in three seasons there, all coming in 2012.

INJURY UPDATES: The Bengals moved their practice to the University of Cincinnati's Sheakley Athletic Center indoor bubble on Wednesday and three starters did not participate due to injury: linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who missed the last three games following arthroscopic knee surgery and will likely miss Sunday's game, too; cornerback Terence Newman (knee), who missed this past Sunday's game in New Orleans and defensive end Wallace Gilberry (back).

Defensive end Margus Hunt also did not participate due to the ankle injury he suffered against the Saints and was seen in the locker room prior to practice still wearing a walking boot.

Running back Giovani Bernard, who missed the last three games due to a hip pointer and clavicle injury, was a limited participant but will likely play against Houston.

Running back Cedric Peerman (hip) and guard Kevin Zeitler (calf) were also limited participants.

Right tackle Andre Smith, who missed the last two games with a sprained ankle, was a full participant and said in the locker room before practice that he felt much better than he did last week when he was still wearing a walking boot.

PRACTICE SQUAD MOVE: The Bengals signed linebacker Terrell Manning to the practice squad and released linebacker Justin Jackson from the practice squad on Tuesday.

Manning was with the New York Giants in the preseason and went to the Miami Dolphins and later the Chicago Bears practice squads before being signed to the Bears 53-player roster on Sept. 22. He played for the Bears in Games 2-3 and 5. He was waived by Chicago on Oct. 14, signed to the Bears practice squad on Oct. 15 and released from the practice squad on Nov. 11.

He was a fifth-round draft choice of Green Bay in 2012 and played in five games. He played in one game with San Diego in 2013.