Bengals runners feeling better after bye

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jeremi Johnson had his left leg perched on a wooden stool, a bag of ice draped across his sore knee. Bernard Scott walked around without bandage or brace — a good sign. Cedric Benson? Moving slowly, just like always.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ three banged-up running backs were back at it Monday, a little fresher after a four-day weekend. The bye gave them a chance to regroup for a two-game stretch that will go a long way in deciding the AFC North championship.

The Bengals are tied with Pittsburgh for first place at 5-2, with Baltimore a game back at 4-3. Cincinnati is 3-0 in the division, giving it an important tiebreaker edge.

Baltimore comes to town next Sunday, and the Bengals go to Pittsburgh a week later. If Cincinnati wins both games, it will be in control of the division with only one AFC North game left — against the lowly Browns.

For a franchise that has been to the playoffs only one time in the last 18 years, there’s a lot riding on the next two games.

“We’re in a good spot right now,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “Being 5-2 and tied for first in the division — it’s ours to lose, really. We just need to hang on for as long as we can and finish the season with a bunch of wins and see what happens as far as the playoff picture’s concerned.

“But that’s a little far down the road for us right now. It’s about Baltimore, and then it’s about Pittsburgh. I don’t even know who we play after that, honestly.”

The focus during the bye week was to get their injured running backs and defensive linemen healed. The running back position was a particular concern — Benson was the only healthy one on the active roster during the fourth quarter of a 45-10 win over the Bears that sent them into the bye.

Benson had a career day against the Bears team that let him go, running for 189 yards and a touchdown. Johnson, a fullback, and Scott, a rookie backup, got hurt in the second half, forcing Benson to stay in the game and carry 37 times.

Despite having a week off, Benson still ranks second in the league with 164 carries. He’s fourth overall in yards with 720. He set his career highs with Cincinnati last season when he ran 214 times for 747 yards.

Benson went home to Texas and relaxed over the weekend. Asked if he felt better after a few days off, he said, “Naw, not at all. It’s good to have the rest mentally, but physically you probably would need more time than that.”