Thursday, August 12, 1999
Injured Ki-Jana jinxed?
Carter, Bengals don't think so
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GEORGETOWN, KY. — They may start calling him Ki-Jinx Carter instead of Ki-Jana Carter. But the star-crossed running back and the Bengals think he'll survive this season intact.
Carter has missed half of his 64 career games and is battling injury again. He hasn't worn pads at Bengals training camp since a cyst burst in the back of his knee 10 days ago.
After Tuesday night's checkup, Carter was told it could take 10 more days to heal, but trainer Paul Sparling classified him day-to-day and said he could be back sooner. He won't play in Saturday's exhibition opener.
This isn't like the knee he tore that cost him his rookie season in 1995. Or the wrist he shattered into four pieces in last year's opener and cost him that season. This isn't even the torn rotator cuff that he played with during most of the 1997 season.
But it's enough to frustrate the eternally upbeat Carter and expose the Bengals' lack of depth at running back. Still, the Bengals think Carter's injury is minor and have no plans to sign a backup.
“This is killing me. Killing me,” Carter said after watching starter Corey Dillon and rookie free agent Michael Basnight take the bulk of the
snaps at running back for another practice Wednesday.
“We've only got two tailbacks and two fullbacks, and I feel bad for them because some of the fullbacks are going every other play. You don't want to run Corey into the ground and the rookie is getting pounded. I'm just sitting there trying to pep them up and they're probably saying, "How (are) you going to tell me?' I would love to trade places with them right now.
“There's nothing wrong with the joint. I'd rather have this than something else. There's three weeks of camp left. If this was my second year, there might be a problem. But I know the system inside and out. When I get back, I'll be able to go right away.”
For those who wonder, yes, Carter does care about playing despite getting a then-record $7.1 million rookie signing bonus. He rides a stationery bike while watching practice. Sparling says he does all that's asked. And on Wednesday he pleaded with running backs coach Jim Anderson to let him do anything. So Anderson called out some running plays and gave him some handoffs after practice.
“It was hot out here. It felt good. I want to be in condition,” Carter said.
Dillon and Basnight surely will be in shape, especially since rookie fullback Nick Williams is expected to miss the entire exhibition season with a sprained ankle. But the Bengals have no desire to sign another running back as the season-ending knee injury to promising No. 3 back Brandon Bennett looms larger and larger.
When asked if anyone is available, the Bengals point to the case of college free agent Phillip Moore, the player signed to replace Bennett, who was cut afer one mini-camp.
“We know it's an issue, but we're looking to protect the two running backs we have and not add another,” said Bengals President Mike Brown. “We have until the regular season. We won't rush them into playing more than they should be. If we lose one, that tends to wear down the other. In our league today, if you have one you're lucky. We're more fortunate than most.”
Brown and Carter don't buy the Ki-Jinx theory. Brown said he fully expects Carter to be healthy and that this isn't an injury that should linger. “He knows the ropes and he'll come back quickly,” Brown said.
Meanwhile, Carter flashed his usual optimism.
“If I can go through this now and be all right for three preseason games and the next 16 games, I'll do it.”
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