Keyshawn a mentor to cousin Chad

Chad Johnson was enjoying the fame and fortune of an NFL player early in his career with Cincinnati — a little too much so for distant cousin Keyshawn Johnson.

‘‘He really got on me,’’ Chad Johnson said Wednesday. ‘‘In Year 2 and 3, I was running through it like water.’’

Since then, Chad Johnson has reined in his spending and is preparing for life after football. It’s one of the many things his older cousin has taught him about life in the NFL.

‘‘He’s helped with my maturity off the field, about being smarter from a business standpoint,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve been very thankful to have someone like him in my corner.’’

It’s a role the 34-year-old Keyshawn Johnson has embraced as he winds down his career with Carolina. On Sunday, the Panthers visit his younger cousin’s Bengals.

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Not everything he says registers, including the veteran’s distaste for end zone celebrations. The only thing stopping three-time Pro Bowl pick Chad Johnson from continuing his touchdown dances this season are that he’s been limited to one TD catch.

Bills Left guard Tutan Reyes and center Melvin Fowler missed practice Wednesday due to injuries, leaving Buffalo potentially down two starters for Sunday’s game against New England.

Reyes, nursing a shoulder injury, and Fowler (thigh), are both listed as questionable and were hurt in a 20-17 loss at Detroit last weekend. The injuries could deplete an already thin and inexperienced offensive line that’s having problems in run-blocking and pass protection.

Buffalo (2-4) has allowed 14 sacks — three resulting in fumbles by J.P. Losman — in its past four games, including a season-worst five against Detroit. The Bills’ running attack has also begun to sputter, held to under 95 yards in each of the past three games.

Second-year reserve Duke Preston can play either guard or center, but the Bills don’t have another experienced backup. Seventh-round rookie draft pick Aaron Merz, who has appeared in only one game, is the backup center.

Deep-threat receiver Roscoe Parrish also missed practice after hurting his hamstring last weekend. He’s listed as questionable.

Rams At their bye week, the Rams are relatively healthy. Still, coach Scott Linehan says the break is needed to help players who are nicked up get ready for the remainder of the season.

Overall, the injuries are minor, the biggest concern being fullback. Starter Paul Smith is expected to miss another month or so after injuring his face against Detroit on Oct. 1. Backup fullback Madison Hedgecock broke his right thumb in Sunday’s 30-28 loss to the Seahawks, but may play Oct. 29 against the Chargers.

Chiefs Kris Wilson has gone from a little-used tight end to the Chiefs’ starting fullback, just in time to face the NFL’s stingiest defense.

Throw in the likelihood of a collision or two with San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman, one of the league’s fiercest hitters, and Wilson could be forgiven a few jitters going into Sunday’s game. But on Wednesday, his first day of practicing full time at fullback, Wilson sounded confident.

And that meeting with Merriman, whose hit on Priest Holmes in a game last year has kept the Chiefs’ star running back sidelined with lingering effects of head and neck trauma?

‘‘I’m ready for that,’’ Wilson said.

Wilson is more likely to be used as a short-yardage blocker for feature back Larry Johnson or as an outlet receiver than as a ball carrier. In five games this year, the third-year player has three catches for 19 yards.

Jaguars Wide receiver Matt Jones and defensive tackle Marcus Stroud could miss their second consecutive game Sunday when the Jaguars travel to Houston.

Jones suffered a groin injury on Oct. 1 against Washington and was inactive the following week against the Jets. It was the first game in the second-year pro’s career that he missed after playing in his first 20 games.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio indicated Wednesday that Stroud would be listed as questionable with an ankle/groin injury, but when the injury report came out later in the day, Stroud was categorized as doubtful — as is Jones. Stroud missed the Jets game two weeks ago, ending a streak of 84 consecutive appearances.

Stroud is in his sixth season with the Jaguars and has been a starter in the Pro Bowl three consecutive years. He recorded 10 tackles in the first four games this season.

Saints Tight end Ernie Conwell is expected to miss at least several weeks with a knee injury.

The Saints also waived third-string quarterback Jason Fife to open a position on the 53-man active roster in case they sign another tight end. Coach Sean Payton said a decision on bringing in a new player could be made before Monday. The Saints have a bye this weekend.

Texans After missing just four games in his first seven NFL seasons, sitting out for more than a year while recovering from a knee injury has been torture for linebacker Kailee Wong.

He’s expected to return Sunday to a defense that’s going through some torture of its own, giving up an NFL-worst 418 yards a game.

The Texans (1-4) are also expecting the return of cornerback Demarcus Faggins and could see the debut of newly signed tackle Lional Dalton.

Wong missed the last 11 games of the 2005 season with a torn patella tendon in his right knee. He was expected to be healthy for the start of the season, but instead was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list for the first six weeks.

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