By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals placed safety Mark Roman on the injured reserve list Monday.

Roman re-aggravated a cartilage tear in his right knee during Sunday's 20-13 win over the New Orleans Saints. He originally injured the knee Nov.3 against the Houston Texans.

Roman had surgery Monday morning, Bengals trainer Paul Sparling said. Roman's estimated rehabilitation time is six weeks.

Roman has played in 13 games with one start this season. He finished with 33 tackles (28 solo) and one forced fumble.

Roman is the third Bengals safety to land on IR. Rookie Lamont Thompson and Cory Hall also are done for the season.

Rookie Marquand Manuel is expected to start at free safety Sunday at Buffalo. Manuel was credited with four special-teams tackles and four on defense against New Orleans, including a hit on Saints wide receiver Donte' Stallworth that made all the highlight reels.

JoJuan Armour will start at strong safety.

The Bengals also signed rookie linebacker Dwayne Levels to the 53-man roster from the team's practice squad. Levels signed a four-year deal, including this season.

Levels first signed with the Bengals as a free agent after the 2002 draft. He was with the team in preseason, and had seven tackles on defense and one on special teams.

He was waived Sept.1, and has been on the Bengals' practice squad since Sept.2.

OTHER INJURIES: Bengals running back Corey Dillon remains probable for the Bills game with a bruised elbow and thigh. Dillon also had to get sand and dirt removed from his eyes during the game.

Backup running back Brandon Bennett (bruised ribs) and cornerback LaVar Glover (hamstring strain) are questionable.

GAME BALLS: For just the second time, Bengals coach Dick LeBeau will give out game balls.

The decisions weren't finalized, although one ball will go to running back Nicolas Luchey.

"I know Nicolas will get one. I can tell you that right now," LeBeau said of Luchey, who rushed for 59 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. "The defense had a lot of good plays, too."

LINE IN THE SAND: The Bengals held the Saints to 36 rushing yards. One reason was the return of defensive end Vaughn Booker, LeBeau said.

"We got Booker back and that helps us," LeBeau said. "He's a bigger guy in there. He had about 25 snaps."

Booker, who had missed the previous four games with a rib cage injury, was credited with no tackles against the Saints.

He is questionable for the Buffalo game.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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