Quarterback Scott Mitchell's ankle injury Thursday night rippled through the roster moves the Bengals made Sunday to get down to the mandatory 53-man roster.

        With Mitchell out at least four weeks and the club uncertain about the game condition of Akili Smith's throwing shoulder behind starter Jon Kitna, the Bengals re-signed Scott Covington to a two-year contract — six days after releasing him — to ensure they have two completely healthy quarterbacks for this Sunday's regular-season opener against New England.

        “There's no reason to burn bridges because you just don't know when you'll need some help,” said Covington, who was contacted while on the beach near his Laguna Niguel, Calif., home.

        Don't look for the Bengals to show interest in any of the quarterbacks released Sunday — Jim Harbaugh, Billy Joe Hobert, Jeff Lewis or Kent Graham.

        Smith threw passes Sunday, the longest being about 25 yards, and said he was improving each day from tendinitis and will be ready to play if needed against the Patriots.

        Because the club had to keep four quarterbacks, other positions were affected. Coach Dick LeBeau said the release of 1999 Pro Bowl kick returner Tremain Mack was linked

        to the quarterback situation.

        With Mack gone, second-year running back Curtis Keaton will return kickoffs.

        “The best is yet to come,” said Keaton, who returned nine kickoffs for a 19.8-yard average in the preseason without a fumble. “I've got to make something happen.”

        Mack fumbled three times last season.

        “We've been leaving the ball on the ground quite a bit the last couple of years,” special teams coach Al Roberts said.

        Mack, former starting fullback Clif Groce and defensive ends Je von Langford and Kevin Henry had their Bengals contracts terminated and are now free agents. Like many teams, the Bengals are keeping only one true fullback, Lorenzo Neal.

        Mack's release also opened up a roster spot at safety for former Miami University star JoJuan Armour, who will back up Cory Hall at strong safety. Armour also is one of the few reliable tacklers on special-teams coverage units that gave up a miserable 32.5 yards on kickoffs and 22.5 yards on punt returns in the preseason.

        Also waived were punter Daniel Pope, defensive tackle Jeff Boyle, linebackers Chris Edmonds and Rashad Harris, wide receiver Malcolm Johnson, tight end Kirk McMullen, defensive end Corey Moore (picked up two weeks ago off waivers from Buffalo) and center Roger Roesler.

        All of the players waived except Moore and Pope are eligible to re-sign today to the team's practice squad.

        The Bengals also placed three players on the injured reserve list — tight end Sean Brewer (groin injury), wide receiver Damon Griffin (hamstring) and linebacker Armegis Spearman (pectoral). They cannot play for the remainder of the season.

        Spearman, who started 11 games last season, was hurt against the Colts and will have surgery Tuesday.

        But the Bengals might not be done wheeling and dealing.

        “We will always look at any opportunity to improve the talent level of our squad,” LeBeau said. “We will study — like every other team — the waiver wire.”

Rookie punter wins job QB emergency affects roster moves NFL roster moves

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