By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Former University of Cincinnati star Ray Jackson, like the rest of the team, will practice today for the last time in this year's training camp.

Camp will close after the 8:45-11 a.m. practice.

For Jackson, who missed a year of football and worked at the Westwood Wal-Mart, this taste of professional football has whetted his appetite for more.

"All I could think about is to come out here and work hard or be where I was," Jackson said. "I never want to take a step backward, so I'm always pushing forward. I come out here and do my best every day and let God handle it from here."

Jackson, a tailback, has a team-leading 74 rushing yards through two games and has scored the Bengals' lone rushing touchdown, but his chance to make the roster depends as much or more on his special teams performance.

"We've given Ray a lot of opportunity to play, and he continues to eat that up," coach Marvin Lewis said Wednesday. "But now it's time to fish or cut bait, and he has to produce on special teams. And we're urging him on there, because I say that's how guys are going to make our team.

"We're going to keep guys who are going to go down and make plays for us."

There are 73 players in camp, and the Bengals have to get down to 65 by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Cincinnati's preseason game Saturday night against the Tennessee Titans will be the final chance for several bubble players - including Jackson - to impress coaches.

"It's been great," Jackson said of the experience. "All my new teammates, and the coaches, they've been great to me. Guys I used to watch on TV are friends now."

LOOKING AHEAD: Starting quarterback Jon Kitna will get his longest stretch of preseason playing time against the Titans in Game 3, traditionally the point where starters see the most action.

First-stringers on both sides of the ball are expected to play into the second quarter, and Lewis said there is a chance Kitna could play the entire first half.

Lewis also said rookie quarterback Carson Palmer again will follow Kitna into the game. Shane Matthews also is expected to play.

On Wednesday, for the second day in a row, Palmer practiced twice. He continues to heal from the partially torn tendon in the arch of his right foot.

STAT CHECK: Cornerback Terrell Roberts, an undrafted rookie out of Oregon State, has impressed coaches on defense and special teams. He leads the Bengals with a 26.3-yard kickoff return average.

KIND WORDS: Lewis praised cornerback Artrell Hawkins for his camp performance and for how he has adjusted well to his role as third cornerback and works as the leader of the second-unit defense.

Jeff Burris and Tory James are the starting cornerbacks.

BIG TARGET: Another pleasant surprise for the Bengals in training camp has been tight end Tony Stewart.

Signed off the Eagles' practice squad in 2002, Stewart is tied for the team's preseason lead in receptions with five and has a 9.4-yard average.

"He had been somewhat of an unknown," Lewis said. "Tony has been a good receiver. He runs pretty precise in his routes. He'll be where they expect him to be."

Stewart is second on the depth chart behind Reggie Kelly.

PARENTS' DAY: Lewis' parents, Marvin Sr. and Vanetta Lewis, attended morning practice. They live in McDonald, Pa.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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