Kitna 'perfect' so far in preseason games

Kitna 'perfect' so far in preseason games
Lions quarterback has played briefly, but has still posted the highest passer ratings possible.
Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News

CINCINNATI -- Jon Kitna should feel good he has nowhere to go but down in the second half of the exhibition season.

Kitna's passer rating has been statistically perfect in the Lions' first two exhibition games. The highest possible rating under the NFL system is 158.3. Kitna did it in the opening game against the New York Giants and repeated it Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kitna completed all three passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. He threw one other pass -- a completion to Roy Williams -- but it was called back for offensive interference against Williams.


Kitna played only the first two series against the Bengals. His last play was a 27-yard pass to Calvin Johnson for the game's first touchdown.

Kitna was pleased but stressed that it's still the exhibition season.

"It's hard to not feel good about it," he said. "We've passed it pretty well the last two years."

Kitna has passed for more than 4,000 yards in his two seasons with the Lions.

Kitna was kicked in the right calf and left the game after the second series. The injury was not serious, Kitna said.

"I'd have played the rest of the game had it been the regular season," he said.

Against the Giants, Kitna completed 6-of-7 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. For the two games, he has hit on 9-of-10 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He has not had an interception and has not been sacked.
Revolving rookie

Gosder Cherilus , the Lions' first-round draft pick, did not start but played most of the game. He alternated at right and left tackle on the offensive line.

Cherilus drew three penalties in the first game. He was much more relaxed against the Bengals. A scout for another NFL team said it was apparent Cherilus was more patient.

"I was a little anxious in the last game," Cherilus said.

He was told Saturday he would play both tackle spots, Cherilus said.

"I went to bed thinking about it," he said.
Hurting Chad

Bengals receiver Chad Johnson came out on the short end of a matchup with Lions cornerback Brian Kelly , and it might have been costly.

Johnson left the game because of an injured right shoulder and did not return. He was hurt on the Bengals' first possession.

Preliminary reports on Johnson were a sprained shoulder that will cause him to miss the next exhibition game. He should be ready for the regular-season opener.

On a second-down play, Kelly batted away a pass attended for Johnson. On the next play, Johnson appeared to get his hands on Carson Palmer 's hands for a reception, but Kelly snatched the ball away for an interception.

Johnson landed hard on his shoulder and was slow getting up. He was taken to the locker room.
Drop zone

Punter Nick Harris had two great punts in the first half but was rewarded for only one of them.

His first punt was downed by Mike Furrey at the Bengals' 2-yard line, but Furrey was penalized for being the first player to touch the ball after being out of bounds. That gave the Bengals possession at the 20.

Late in the first half, a 44-yard punt went out at the 1.

The defense let the Bengals off hook, though. They drove 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-7.

Harris had a good punting night against his former team, averaging 43.6 yards on five punts. He was waived by the Bengals in 2003 and claimed by the Lions.

"I want superior punting," coach Rod Marinelli said.
Special teams

Return ability will decide some roster spots in the final cuts. Brandon Middleton and Aveion Cason haven't hurt their chances with their work on returns.

Middleton had a 31-yard kickoff return late in the first half. He broke through a hole near the left hash mark to get extra yards. Earlier in the second quarter, Cason had a 21-yard punt return.

The coverage broke down on a punt return late in the third quarter. Antonio Chatman got loose for a 33-yard return. It set up a field goal that made it 10-10.




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