Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap was limited during practice on Wednesday, still listed with a bum hamstring that's kept him out of four-plus games this season. Bengals.com beat writer Geoff Hobson tweeted late Thursday morning that the defensive end isn't practicing today, possibly causing a city-wide epidemic that's best described as:

Yet things don't appear to be on the level.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis told Kevin Goheen with the Cincinnati Enquirer that "I don't expect anyone to play until I say they play." When Dunlap was asked about the injury, he simply offered, "Ask coach Lewis."

Dunlap has missed four of Cincinnati's previous seven games with a hamstring injury. Making his return in week 15, Dunlap took part during 92 defensive snaps between the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals combined. Last week Dunlap generated a quarterback sack, four quarterback pressures and two additional hits on the quarterback.

As we're totally in the dark during another Marvin Lewis secret-agent man episode, let me offer this: