By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Coach Marvin Lewis remained noncommittal Friday about Corey Dillon, even though the tailback's status had been upgraded to questionable for Sunday's game against Kansas City.

Dillon, coming back from an abdominal muscle injury that was more serious than initially believed, practiced Friday for a second consecutive day.

Dillon returned to practice Thursday, one day after he said he had a grapefruit-sized sac of fluid removed with needles from his lower abdomen.

Dillon also told the team's Web site that if he did not play against the Chiefs, he was looking to play Nov. 23 at San Diego.

Lewis has said that when Dillon returns he will use both Dillon and Rudi Johnson. Johnson has started three times in Dillon's place and rushed for an average of 117.3 yards.

Starting defensive tackle John Thornton (back) was downgraded to questionable Friday and did not practice but is expected to play, Lewis said.

RUDI, RUDI, RUDI: Johnson's 182-yard, 43-carry performance against Houston last week has many fans looking for his No. 32 jersey. At Koch's Sporting Goods in downtown Cincinnati, co-owner Kris Koch said about 25 people have come in looking for Johnson's jersey. He said some fans have brought in old Ki-Jana Carter and Stanley Wilson No. 32 jerseys and have had "Rudi Johnson" nameplates made and placed over existing names.

Another 100 people have called about Johnson jerseys, which are available in the authentic line for $200. The $50 replica jerseys are available only in Dillon (28), Chad Johnson (85), Justin Smith (90), Jon Kitna (3) and Carson Palmer (9). The Rudi rush didn't start after his 101-yard game against Seattle on Oct. 26.

"Fans in this town need more than one game to think somebody's good," Koch said.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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