By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

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Photos of Sunday's game

Bengals tailback Corey Dillon was involved in a one-car accident on Interstate 71 Sunday morning and missed the 11:30 a.m. deadline to determine whether he would be activated for the game.

Neither Dillon nor his passengers, including his wife, were hurt, coach Marvin Lewis said.

Dillon was further delayed by a second accident that he witnessed, Lewis said. A Hamilton County Sheriff's dispatcher confirmed Dillon's single-car accident and said the second accident, involving three cars, occurred as a result of Dillon's accident.

Dillon had been listed as probable with a groin injury. League rules require teams to de-activate seven players off the 53-man roster; 45 players are in uniform.

"Corey really wanted to play," Lewis said after the Bengals defeated Seattle, 27-24.

"He called me in a panic. ... We are happy that Corey and his wife and family are OK. That was No. 1. I told him we would be OK here."

Rudi Johnson started in Dillon's place and rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown.

The accident occurred at 10:59 a.m. at mile marker 17 on southbound I-71. The three left lanes of the highways were blocked.

Dillon did not arrive at the stadium in time to have his condition assessed by the team's medical staff, a team spokesman said. A Bengals spokesman said Dillon arrived at the stadium around noon. He was not taken to a hospital.

League rules require the list of inactive players be compiled by 11:30 a.m.

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