By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna will start Sunday at Carolina, but coach Dick LeBeau hesitated Monday to hand Kitna the job for the three games that follow.

"I foresee him starting this week, for sure," LeBeau said.

The decision is LeBeau's, he and Bengals president Mike Brown say. The possibility then remains that Akili Smith or Joe Germaine could see some playing time in the final month.

Kitna didn't want to answer questions about whether he had earned the starting job Monday.

But he had plenty of other comments.

"Last year, we were 6-10, and we finished the season strong," Kitna said. "We did some positive things, but you got maybe a better feeling about yourself than you should have. Right now, at 1-11, maybe the best thing for us is to take a long hard look at who we have around here.

"It's about getting the right types of attitudes in the locker room and upstairs, and everywhere. The whole thing works together."

In spite of an interception that was returned 98 yards for a touchdown in Sunday's 27-23 loss to Baltimore, Kitna played his sixth strong game in a row. He has a 1-7 record as a starter this season and a 7-16 mark with the Bengals.

Since the bye week, Kitna has thrown for 1,592 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Kitna also clarified comments he made after the game about the interception on a pass intended for running back Corey Dillon.

"Corey did nothing wrong. It was one of those plays where he has kind of an option to go in or out, and I was trying to anticipate his body movements," Kitna said. "And I thought he was going to turn out and try to be on time. I knew it was going to be a tight throw.

"It's nobody's fault. It's one of those things that continue to happen to us. It ended up being the wrong read on my part."

TOUCHDOWN: The Bengals' three touchdowns Sunday give them 25 through 12 games, equaling the number achieved in all of 2001. The Bengals also have allowed 40 TDs, five more than were scored against them in 2001.

INJURY REPORT: Free safety Lamont Thompson remained questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers with a cervical (neck) strain.

Strong safety Cory Hall (left shoulder strain) is questionable and will have an MRI today. Center Rich Braham (ankle) and running back Brandon Bennett (knee) are probable.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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