By Kevin Kelly and Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bengals running back Corey Dillon and his teammates will have a new, and possibly improved, field to play on when they return to Paul Brown Stadium on Oct. 19.

Upon the recommendation of head groundskeeper Darian Daily, most of the field's turf was removed after the Bengals played the Steelers on Sept. 21.

The majority of the field lay bare Monday, but a clay-based, 1 3/4-inch sod will be installed by Wednesday. The estimated cost is $75,000.

"It was planned to go forward with it," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "Now, we're going to get an opportunity to get it done because of this break we have between the home games."

Dillon blamed poor footing for a groin injury suffered in the second quarter against the Steelers.

He was limited to four rushes for 20 yards against the Browns on Sunday, and is expected to miss this week's game against the Bills.

"The only comment I can make is that it's interesting," Dillon said. "My groin feels not good. Am I (mad) about it? Yes I am. Do I think it could have been prevented? Yeah. Now I've got to sit around for two weeks and heal up while my boys go out there to battle. That's what is ticking me off even more."

Beginning with the Ravens game Oct. 19, the Bengals will play four home games in five weeks.

GAME BALLS: Game balls were awarded to quarterback Jon Kitna, defensive tackle Tony Williams and special teams player Kevin Kaesviharn for their performances in the 21-14 victory at Cleveland.

Kitna was 23-for-31 passing for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Williams had six tackles, including five solos, and one sack for a 7-yard loss. Kaesviharn had one tackle on special teams.

SIGNS OF SWAGGER: Kelley Washington signaled a first down. Peter Warrick snapped imaginary snapshots of Chad Johnson. Justin Smith pretended to hammer nails in a coffin after a sack. Lewis doesn't accept trash talking, but the coach was not upset by his players' celebrations Sunday.

"We want them to be happy," he said. "That was a point we made a couple of weeks ago at the Oakland game. Too many times we were making plays and our guys would turn around and go back to the huddle. Let's go pick our guy up and let's go be happy where we are and be excited because the other team feels that swagger. It's a confidence thing."

OTHER AILMENTS: Lewis said that tight end Matt Schobel (hamstring) should be available for Sunday. Lewis also said that wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (hamstring) "is a lot closer."

Linebacker Riall Johnson (calf) also "has the opportunity to play this week if the numbers are right for us," Lewis said.

KUDOS: Former Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy congratulated Lewis in his column on NFL.com.

"His team has played well all year, and he's done something to keep their morale from breaking and keep them in every game," Levy wrote. "They had to come back against the Browns in Cleveland, and I just have to tip my hat to him for the job he's done."

BROADCAST NEWS: Solomon Wilcots is still doing CBS-TV telecasts on NFL games, but he has moved his family to Los Angeles from Anderson Township.

Wilcots is involved in a new venture called the NFL Network, the league's programming service. Wilcots will be the co-host, along with former players Sterling Sharpe and Glenn Parker, of a weekly prime-time show titled Playbook.The show debuts Nov. 4.

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