Bengals' Simpson active against 49ers

Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson was active Sunday for a game against the San Francisco 49ers even though he missed practice because he is the focus of a drug investigation.

Simpson was excused from practice on Wednesday and Thursday. The team said in a statement that the coaches considered him ready to play. Andre Caldwell was expected to start in his spot.

Simpson took over as a starter this season after the Bengals allowed Terrell Owens to leave and traded Chad Ochocinco to New England. He leads the team's receivers with 180 yards and is tied for second with eight catches.

''Jerome's legal situation with regard to events of the past week remains completely unresolved, and the Bengals believe it is not appropriate to act on any presumption of what may transpire,'' the statement said.

A package containing 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana was tracked from California to Simpson's home in northern Kentucky. Police said a search of his home found 6 more pounds of marijuana, smoking pipes and scales. No charges have been filed.

Offensive tackle Anthony Collins was visiting Simpson's home when the package arrived on Tuesday. He later released a statement saying he wasn't a focus of the investigation. Collins, a reserve tackle, also was active on Sunday.

Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. was in the 49ers' starting lineup for Braylon Edwards, who had a procedure on his right knee and is out indefinitely. Edwards hurt the knee during an overtime loss to Dallas last week.