Halftime notebook: Eagles lead, 27-3

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

PHILADELPHIA – Rookie first-round pick David Pollack is listed as a linebacker but played several snaps Friday night at defensive end.

Pollack, whose 20-day contract holdout caused him to miss all of training camp, lined up for an entire series of plays at right defensive end.

Earlier, he had alternated between standing left end and down right end.

Pollack had Donovan McNabb in his grasp for a potential sack in the second quarter, but the Eagles quarterback – known for his physical strength – got away and tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass.

Philadelphia, behind three McNabb touchdown passes, led 27-3 at halftime in preseason Game 3.

TWO-MINUTE WOES: For the third consecutive preseason game, the Bengals let the opposition score inside the two-minute warning of the first half.

McNabb threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Lewis with 1:09 remaining. Lewis beat cornerback Tory James, who did not turn around to locate the ball in flight.
In nine of 16 games last season, the Bengals allowed scores inside the two-minute warning of the first half.

WARRICK WATCH: Peter Warrick dressed but did not play in the first half against the Eagles. He didn’t practice for four consecutive days this week.

Warrick is coming back from a knee injury, but a tender hamstring kept him off the field last week.

LINEUP SWITCHES: The Bengals had three changes in the starting lineup because of injuries.
Kevin Kaesviharn started at free safety instead of Madieu Williams, who has back and hamstring injuries. Williams, slowed by hamstring and back injuries, in expected back next week.

Tight end Matt Schobel started instead of Reggie Kelly (knee), and Stacy Andrews started at right offensive tackle ahead of Willie Anderson (knee).

Williams, Kelly and Anderson were just three of 14 Bengals players who did not dress.

The others: kicker Shayne Graham (groin), cornerback Greg Brooks (hand), cornerback Terrell Roberts (knee), tailback Kenny Watson (knee), cornerback Reggie Myles (groin), linebacker Nate Webster (knee), linebacker Caleb Miller (ankle), center Ben Wilkerson (knee), guard Steve Vieira (foot), offensive tackle Belton Johnson (calf) and wide receiver Kelley Washington (hamstring).

IN GAME: Strong safety Kim Herring left the game in the first half with an injured right shoulder and did not return.

Left tackle Levi Jones missed a series. Left guard Eric Steinbach moved outside, and Larry Moore played left guard. Jones returned late in the second quarter.

Schobel went down in the first half with an apparent lower left leg injury. He had covered a punt. Schobel ran off the field without assistance.

OH, BROTHER: Andrews played against his brother, Eagles right guard Shawn Andrews. Shawn Andrews played college ball at Arkansas, Stacy at Mississippi. Both are second-year NFL players.

Stacy Andrews was called for a false start penalty on the first Bengals possession. He had a second false start penalty and a holding call later in the first half. Andrews was matched against Philadelphia defensive end Jevon Kearse.

TRIBUTE: A moment of silence was observed prior to the game for Thomas Herrion, the 49ers offensive guard who died after a preseason game last Saturday in Denver.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com