8-10-01, 7:25 P.M.
BY GEOFF HOBSON
PONTIAC, Mich. _ Quarterback Akili Smith gets two chances at the Lions Friday night when the Bengals try to get their first road win in the pre-season since they won here four years ago.
Smith, who led the Bengals to their only touchdown last week in Chicago, plans to work the first quarter and a half and then come back in the fourth quarter.
Jon Kitna, last week's starter, is to finish the second quarter and Scott Mitchell makes his return to the Pontiac Silverdome in the third quarter as Bengals head coach Dick LeBeau continues his quarterback derby in the second pre-season game.
Smith probably won't have Pro Bowl running back Corey Dillon for more than the first play or two and right tackle Willie Anderson may not go at all with a tender ankle.
Outside linebackers Takeo Spikes (ankle) and Steve Foley (shoulder)
won't play, giving more work to Canute Curtis and Armegis Spearman.
The Lions are also nicked heading into rookie head coach Marty Mornhinweg's debut. Defensive linemen Luther Elliss and Tracy Scroggins are out as are wide receivers Herman Moore (shoulder) and Germane Crowell (thigh), as well as tight end David Sloan.
The Bengals' first-team offense seeks its first touchdown of the season since poor protection hampered Kitna's outing in the first half last week. He threw for just 65 yards against constant pressure while the Bengals converted one of seven third-down tries in a first half they managed just 98 yards.
Mitchell, who led the Lions to three playoff berths in the mid-'90s, throws his first pass here since he threw one into the arms of Bengals cornerback Corey Sawyer that ended up as the winning touchdown in Cincinnati's 34-28 victory over the Lions three years ago.
In other news, tackle Mike Doughty says he's still trying to decide if he'll re-join the team after walking out of Bengals camp last Monday night because he was disappointed with his chances of making the roster.
If Doughty doesn't come back by Monday, he won't be able to play for any other team while the Bengals keep his rights.
