Chris Keaton drags Mark Roman in the intrasquad scrimmage. (Greg Ruffing photo) | ZOOM |

        GEORGETOWN, Ky. - The preseason competition between running backs Curtis Keaton and Rudi Johnson will hit a fever pitch Saturday night in Indianapolis.

        Starter Corey Dillon and top backup Brandon Bennett are both out. Dillon had a tooth pulled earlier in the week and has a sore ankle; Bennett is out with irritation of a big toe. Besides, the game will be played at the RCA Dome on artificial turf, which is harder on the lower body.

        Johnson, who had 100 yards rushing on 14 carries against Buffalo in the preseason opener, will get the start, Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said Thursday. Johnson and Keaton, who had 52 yards on 15 runs, aren't necessarily competing for a roster spot, but they're probably competing for playing time behind Dillon and Bennett.

        “I think that in the final makeup, you could see both of those players on the roster,” LeBeau said.

        Johnson played in two games last season as a rookie but had no rushing attempts. He returned four kickoffs for a 19.8-yard average.

        Keaton, in his third NFL season, had five carries for a 9.6-yard average last year and was the Bengals' primary kickoff returner most of the season, averaging 21.2 yards on 42 returns.

        WHEW: LeBeau was pleased not only with the Bengals' signing of middle linebacker Brian Simmons for another six seasons, but also with the message it sends.

        “It's a good indicator that we're going to reward our own,” LeBeau said.

        THAT'S THE SPIRIT: Bengals president Mike Brown and LeBeau signed autographs before practice Thursday night. Players were situated around the edge of the playing field for a half-hour and also signed.

        IRON MAN: Fullback Lorenzo Neal is the Bengal with the longest consecutive games-played streak for a non-kicker - 128 games over eight seasons.

        REMEMBER SAM? Defensive tackle Sam Adams, who turned down a three-year offer from the Bengals worth between $8.5 and $9 million, could end up back in Baltimore. The Ravens are the front-runners to sign the free agent, whom they let go in March as part of a salary-cap purge.

        The Baltimore Sun reported Thursday the Ravens are believed to have offered Adams a multi-year deal that would pay him between $2.5 million and $3 million this season, and could be worth $5 million with incentives. Adams reportedly wants $5 million guaranteed.

        Adams might be running out of suitors. His other options appear to be a one-year deal from Denver worth $1.5 million and another one-season offer for $1.2 million from his hometown Seattle Seahawks.

        The Bengals pulled their offer after Adams said he wanted a week to think about it and other opportunities.

Bengals' coordinator arrested on DUI charge Bengals' Smith hungry for sacks, playoffs Bengals Notebook: Johnson, Keaton center stage Colts shorthanded for Bengals game NFL Notebook: Browns may deal Johnson Jets 34, Ravens 16 Saints 24, Dolphins 7 Titans 24, Raiders 14

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