By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Linebacker Adrian Ross and cornerback Artrell Hawkins are expected to play Sunday against San Francisco at Paul Brown Stadium.

Hawkins was inactive at Baltimore because he was one of several Bengals players suffering from the flu, coach Marvin Lewis said. Hawkins had been downgraded Friday because of a knee injury.

Ross suffered a neck stinger against the Ravens.

MORE FROM CARSON: Rookie quarterback Carson Palmer expanded Monday on comments he made Sunday about his demotion back to No. 3. Lewis flipped Palmer's role with that of veteran Shane Matthews, who had been No. 3 for the previous seven games.

Lewis said he wanted a veteran quarterback available given the circumstances of the stretch drive.

Palmer is now facing the likelihood of not playing as a rookie.

"It's not what I wanted. It's not what I expected," said Palmer, who added "I never thought I would learn so much by watching Jon (Kitna) play."

Palmer was red-shirted as a freshman at Southern Cal because of a broken collarbone. The time off did not erode his playing.

"My skills didn't diminish."

Starting QB Kitna is the only NFL quarterback to play every offensive snap for his team this season and is having a career year.

Palmer also said that Lewis and the coaching staff have been straightforward with him.

LATEST PROP: Lewis has used visual aids and props as motivational tools throughout the season. His latest ploy was to place orange extension chords in each player's locker. The theme: Extend the season, as in make the playoffs.

STAT CHECK: The Bengals dropped to ninth in total offense in league rankings, not counting the Monday night game. They are 24th in defense. San Francisco has deceptively good numbers for a 6-7 team. It is eighth in offense and ninth in defense.

Kitna's one touchdown pass against the Ravens moved him into a tie at 23 with the Colts Peyton Manning and Packers Brett Favre.

Despite his 15-yard receiving game at Baltimore, Chad Johnson maintained his AFC lead in receiving yards at 1,120.

LOCAL HEROES: 49ers cornerback Ahmed Plummer, a Wyoming High School graduate, has four interceptions, including a 68-yard touchdown return, this season, his fourth in the NFL. ... Former Bengals tailback Garrison Hearst leads the 49ers with 768 rushing yards.

GO EAST: The 49ers are winless on the road this season at 0-6 and have allowed an average of 27 points a game in those six.

Of the four NFC West teams, only the St. Louis Rams have more than one road victory at 3-3, heading into the Monday night game at Cleveland. The other three teams - Seattle, Arizona and the 49ers - are a combined 1-18 on the road.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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