Levi Jones, all 6 feet 5, 306 pounds of him, isn't likely to catch any passes Sunday. But the Bengals' rookie offensive tackle has been lining up at tight end off and on all season and will continue to do so Sunday against Tampa Bay at Paul Brown Stadium.

        It is clear that when Jones is playing tight end, the Bengals will use him as a blocker and run the ball - so obvious, in fact, that Atlanta, unconcerned about him going out for a pass, blitzed whenever Jones lined up there last Sunday.

        So why continue to tip off the defense?

        Actually, Jones is the coaching staff's solution to a larger predicament the Bengals face with their tight ends, who because of injuries, inexperience or both, are unable to play the position down after down.

        Second-year tight end Sean Brewer tore the meniscus in his left knee last week, sidelining him for at least the next three weeks. Third-year player Brad St. Louis is being used only as a long snapper. That leaves rookie Matt Schobel as the only tight end on the roster.

        “We've tried to bring them along slowly, especially Matt (Schobel), who doesn't have a lot of experience playing that position. We'll be easing them into the offense more and more,” said offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, who admitted that Jones isn't fooling any defenses. “If you're doing those things (with Jones), you do tie your hands a bit.”

        The Bengals quarterbacks, who ultimately lose a receiver without a tight end, say the consequences are even more severe than that.

        “It makes it real simple for the defense when they know you're not going to be throwing the football to the tight end,” said Akili Smith, this week's starter. “Those guys (Schobel and Brewer) have to find a way to grow up as quickly as possible. There is some space out there for tight ends against Tampa Bay.”

        Backup Jon Kitna said: “It's a huge problem. We've got some young guys that have some talent but right now aren't much of the game plan. And when you do have to put an offensive lineman in, it's a problem.”

        Schobel has the only reception by a Bengals tight end this season, one catch for 6 yards against Atlanta. Nicolas Luchey, an H-back who is third on the tight end depth chart, has one catch for 4 yards.

        By contrast, Bengals opponents have thrown to the tight end seven times for 45 yards against the Bengals alone. And Tampa Bay tight ends have 11 catches in three games for 86 yards. The newest one, Rickey Dudley, who signed with the Bucs Sept.17, caught a 9-yard touchdown pass last week in his first game with Tampa Bay.

        During the entire 2001 season, the Bengals threw 29 times to three different tight ends for 281 yards. None of the three - Tony McGee, Marco Battaglia and Kirk McMullen - is with the team today. Battaglia signed with the Bucs and was released Tuesday. McGee signed with Dallas and has three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown. McMullen caught two passes last year for 15 yards but was cut this season.

        “There's nothing you can do when you get yourself in a position like that when you let your players go,” Smith said. “You have to find time to rebuild. That's what we're doing right now with the tight ends.”

        In addition to new player personnel at the position, tight ends coach John Garret is in his first season at that job. Strength and conditioning assistant Rodney Holman is one of the top tight ends in Bengals history, having gone to three straight Pro Bowls from 1988-90, but he has nothing to do with coaching Brewer or Schobel.

        “They've got their coach, and he's moving in a certain direction with those guys,” Holman said.

        Bratkowski said if Brewer gets healthy and Schobel can grasp the position, the Bengals could begin to use the tight end as a regular pass receiver.

        “That's not my decision,” Schobel said. “I don't call the plays. We have to prove that we can hold our blocks. I'd like to think that I'm getting there. It's frustrating because it's a process. I may mess up because I don't have much experience.”

        Until the actual tight ends are ready to play on a regular basis, Jones said, he will continue to play the position.

        “I'll take whatever they give me,” Jones said. “(The tight ends) have started to mature, though. Brewer is getting a lot better at pass blocking and run blocking.”

        What about Schobel?

        “He's getting better,” Jones said. “Is he as far along as Brewer? Probably not.”

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