Canute Curtis isn't the least bit nervous about Sunday's regular-season opener against the San Diego Chargers.

        “I look forward to it,” the Bengals linebacker affirmed enthusiastically, gripping his helmet and exiting the Paul Brown Stadium practice field Monday afternoon.

        Then he pauses, his face briefly awash with concern. And that's when Curtis, the newest member of the NFL's most highly touted linebacker unit, fesses up.

        “Of course, there's more pressure because you're going to be in there and guys are going to be counting on you, and you're going to be counting on yourself,” Curtis said. “You just don't want to let anyone down.”

        In four days, the sixth-year veteran will start in his first opener, joining middle linebacker Brian Simmons and probable right linebacker Takeo Spikes as one of the league's most potent triumvirates.

        Curtis replaces Steve Foley, who dislocated his right shoulder Thursday in the Bengals' 27-14 preseason finale loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Foley is out for the season and is expected to undergo corrective surgery this week.

        The territory is all too familiar to Curtis, a sixth-round Bengals draft pick in 1997. He started the last four games of 2001 when Foley was out with a back strain, and he started the first three preseason games when Foley was out with a groin strain.

        Thursday night, Foley left the field hurt after diving to break up a second-quarter pass. He also left many people unsettled, including Bengals defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Mark Duffner.

        “At first, (Foley) thought it was a shoulder bruise and I had a little sense of relief, only to find out later he had sustained a pretty serious injury,” Duffner said. “It's not a good thing at this point, because I think he's an outstanding player. At the same time, I feel like it gives an opportunity for Canute and other people to step up and continue to be productive for us.”

        Curtis averaged five tackles per game last season at linebacker. He is also the Bengals' leading special teams tackler (31) over the last three seasons.

        Linebacker is one of the Bengals' most talented pockets, lined with fifth-year player Adrian Ross and third-year player Armegis Spearman. Second-year player Riall Johnson is charted as Curtis' backup.

        Spikes is expected to play Sunday after missing three preseason games with a pectoral muscle injury. He doesn't foresee a noticeable change in the linebackers' productivity with Curtis starting.

        “(Foley and Curtis) are two types of the same players,” Spikes said. “Both of them are great pass rushers, and both of them are great run stoppers. I'd say Canute is more of a run stopper than a cover guy, whereas Foley was able to do both of those well. I'm not saying Canute can't do them. If you ask me, yeah, I'd rather go ahead and stop the run.”

        Curtis, a native of Amityville, N.Y., was dubbed the “Amityville Horror” at West Virginia University, where he shattered a school record with 34 1/2 career sacks.

        Now known as “Nute,” the 6-foot-2, 257-pound Curtis is aiming for a seamless transition into a starting role, and an improvement in last season's ninth-rated defense.

        Simmons described Curtis' opportunity as a well-earned chance of a lifetime.

        “Are we going to miss Foley? Yeah, we're going to miss him. But we've got guys that can step up,” Simmons said. “Canute studies hard and knows what needs to be done out there. He's a professional.”

        Curtis is in the final season of a three-year deal. He's hopeful that contract negotiations will end in an extension.

        “I'm not looking to go anywhere else,” he said. “I don't care if I'm starting or backing up. I want to be a Bengal.”

        Curtis' long-term impact is still up for debate.

        “I want to go out there and make plays so people won't say "Oh, Canute's in there, not Foley.”'

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