By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

The rookie remained in the starting lineup, but the blatant attention was off Madieu Williams.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

The Dolphins tested another new face in the Bengals' defensive secondary Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Veteran Deltha O'Neal was making his first regular season start at left cornerback since being traded to the Bengals in April.

"I haven't been playing for a good month almost," O'Neal said. "It felt good to be out there and fight with the guys that were out there."

Cincinnati swapped the No. 17 pick in April's draft to the Broncos for the former Pro Bowl corner and two draft picks.

But during the Bengals' first preseason game against the Buccaneers on Aug. 16, O'Neal suffered a bruised thigh and had his ankle rolled on a special team's play. The injuries prevented him from participating in the remaining three pre-season games and the season-opener against the Jets last week.

"It was great having Deltha back in there," head coach Marvin Lewis said.

The Dolphins went to O'Neal's side of the field with varied results throughout Sunday's game, and scored their only touchdown of the game when O'Neal couldn't react fast enough to a deflected pass.

On first-and-goal from the 4-yard line, quarterback A.J. Feeley's pass was deflected by Bengals defensive end Duane Clemons and caught in the endzone by wide receiver Chris Chambers.

"I was hoping (to make the interception)," O'Neal said. "It was one of those volleyball plays. I was going for it though."

Quarterback A.J. Feeley completed a 20-yard pass to Chris Chambers on Miami's third drive of the game. Chambers got inside of O'Neal to make the catch.

The next time the Dolphins went to the Bengals' left side, during their fourth drive, O'Neal was there to tip a pass intended for wide receiver Marty Booker. O'Neal nearly caught the ball with as he tumbled to the ground.

Just before halftime, Feeley completed a 6-yard pass to tight end Randy McMichael with O'Neal on the coverage. O'Neal broke up another pass late in the third quarter.

The Bengals broke up 11 passes and intercepted two of Feeley's passes.

"It wouldn't have been so close if we would've had all those (interceptions)," O'Neal said. "But that you can work on."

Williams, who started for O'Neal in Week 1, started in place of Rogers Beckett at free safety against the Dolphins.

In his first NFL start a week earlier, the Jets exploited Williams' inexperience early. Though Williams played some cornerback in college, his last 27 games at Maryland were spent at free safety.

He had five solo tackles, one assist and one pass breakup Sunday.

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