PITTSBURGH -- The Cincinnati Bengals deactivated wide receiver Chad Johnson for their Thursday night game against the division rival Steelers for violation of a team rule.

After a season of relative calm for the mercurial wideout following a turbulent offseason, Johnson will sit out Thursday night's game in Pittsburgh for the unspecified violation. The Bengals made the announcement in a statement from the team's hotel, and said there would be no other announcement until after the game.

Johnson had been the center of the Bengals' attention for much of the offseason. He unsuccessfully lobbied for a trade and threatened to sit out if he wasn't dealt to another team. After the Bengals refused, he gave up and reported to minicamp, but complained that his right ankle was bothering him.

He had bone spurs removed from the ankle and was limited at the start of training camp. In the second preseason game, he landed awkwardly and temporarily dislocated his left shoulder.

The 30-year-old wideout then made headlines for legally changing his surname to Ocho Cinco -- the nickname he created for himself based on an incorrect Spanish translation of his jersey number, 85.

Johnson has been relatively quiet since, however, not generating much news either positive or negative for the 1-8-1 Bengals. His production has dropped off, as he is on pace to finish with less than 1,000 yards receiving for the first time since 2001, his rookie season out of Oregon State. Through nine games Johnson has 41 receptions for 383 yards and four touchdowns.