Bengals’ Johnson is not expected to play

Running back Rudi Johnson is expected to miss the Cincinnati Bengals’ game Monday against the undefeated New England Patriots because of a strained hamstring.

The Bengals’ injury report listed Johnson as “out” for the game. Johnson didn’t practice on Thursday and wasn’t available for interviews.

Johnson has been one of the NFL’s most durable running backs since he became the full-time starter in 2004, replacing Corey Dillon. He has more carries over the last three seasons than any other running back.

If Johnson is sidelined, sixth-year running back Kenny Watson will make his first start since 2002 with the Washington Redskins. Watson has been primarily a special teams player and a third-down back in his five seasons with Cincinnati.

Tennessee quarterback Vince Young tells “60 Minutes” in an interview conducted in June but airing Sunday night that he was angry about not winning the Heisman Trophy in December 2005.

Young, who guided the Longhorns to victory over USC in the Rose Bowl, finished second in voting behind the Trojans’ Reggie Bush.

“And I wanted to show the world that I was the real Heisman Trophy winner,” Young said. “But on paper, Reggie Bush is the Heisman Trophy winner. [I am] not taking nothing from him, he knows he’s a phenomenal athlete.”

Is he better than Bush?

“I always feel like I’m better. Always,” Young said.

Young ran for 200 yards and passed for 267 in the Rose Bowl, lifting Texas to the Bowl Championship Series national title.

New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was fined $12,500 by the NFL for his low and late hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman. Losman sprained his left knee during the play Sunday and is expected to miss at least two weeks. Wilfork was penalized on the play in the Patriots’ 38-7 win. . . . Kellen Winslow missed his second practice in a row because of a partially dislocated left shoulder, and Coach Romeo Crennel indicated doctors would decide if the tight end plays against Baltimore. . . . Jake Delhomme missed practice again because of a strained right elbow, making it more likely backup David Carr will start at quarterback for Carolina on Sunday against Tampa Bay.

New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress got some good news about his badly sprained right ankle. A second opinion on the ankle showed it was nothing more than a bad sprain, and that Burress can continue his current course of treatment. Burress will continue practicing on a limited basis about one day a week and intends to play Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles at Giants Stadium. . . . Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas says he kept playing even though he felt the concussion he suffered early in the team’s second game of the season. Tests several days after the game revealed the injury, and Thomas sat out last week’s loss to the New York Jets. Thomas might play Sunday against Oakland. . . . Dallas Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis practiced for the second consecutive day and could play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. Ellis hasn’t played since he ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon in a game in November.