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O'Donnell To Start For Bengals


Neil O'Donnell regained the Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback job Wednesday with no guarantee that he'll keep it for the rest of the season.

After starting third-stringer Paul Justin for the past two games, coach Bruce Coslet returned to the arrangement from the first 10 games. O'Donnell will start Sunday against Buffalo, Jeff Blake will be the backup and Justin drops to No. 3.

"When we put Neil down (to a backup role), I reiterated it wasn't all his fault," Coslet said. "I still think a lot of Neil. He played well earlier in the season, played well at times throughout the season, and his quarterback rating is respectable."

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    Forum: Should the Bengals stick with O'Donnell?

  • O'Donnell, who agreed to a four-year contract July 7, was benched two weeks ago even though he had the sixth-highest passer rating in the NFL. The offense hadn't produced a touchdown in its last 19 series under O'Donnell, prompting the switch.

    After Justin threw an interception during the first half of a 34-17 loss to Jacksonville last Sunday, O'Donnell went in and completed 20 of 36 for 203 yards and one touchdown. He also threw an interception and fumbled a snap in the fourth quarter.

    Coslet

    Neil O'Donnell
    Neil O'Donnell completed 20 of 36 passes for 203 yards in relief during a loss to Jacksonvile. (AP)
    declined to say that O'Donnell would remain the starter for the rest of the season, but said he doesn't want to keep changing quarterbacks.

    "It doesn't work to play musical quarterbacks -- never has, never will," Coslet said.

    The decision to put Justin back to third-string doesn't mean he failed in his five quarters as the starter, Coslet said. The Bengals made him the starter to try to spark the offense and to size up Justin for next season.

    Blake, who is the odd-man out in the planning for next year, will be No. 2 on the depth chart in part because he is the best runner of the three quarterbacks.

    The Bengals (2-10) could be hard-pressed to protect their quarterback. Left guard Rich Braham had surgery Wednesday to stabilize his kneecap and will be out for the season. That gives the Bengals a new set of guards -- third-year pro Rod Jones and rookie Mike Goff, who will make his second NFL start against the Bills.

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