The Cincinnati Bengals lost four starters to injury in the first 16 minutes of Friday night’s preseason opener against the New York Jets, but an unconventional score by an unlikely source sparked a preseason-opening win for the first time since 2008.

Third-year running back Cedric Peerman recovered a blocked punt in the end zone at the end of the second quarter and added a TD run in the third to help lift the Bengals to a 17-6 victory in front of a crowd of 44,161 at Paul Brown Stadium.

It was a positive ending to a night that began with guard Travelle Wharton, linebacker Rey Maualuga and defensive end Carlos Dunlap leaving with right-knee injuries just four minutes into the game, with Wharton being carted off the field.

Strong safety Taylor Mays left with a hit to the head early in the second quarter.

But the defense overcame the loss of the three starters to hold the Jets to a three-and-out after punter Kevin Huber had pinned the visitors at their own 4-yard line late in the second quarter. And the Bengals’ Dan Skuta and Robert Sands broke through and got to Jets punter T.J. Conley near the goal-line, with Skuta being credited with the block that Peerman recovered in the end zone to give the Bengals a 10-3 lead with 22 seconds left before halftime.

“All I know is that I rushed straight and hard, and nobody came out to get me,” said Skuta, a fourth-year linebacker who added a sack in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t know what it was, but it looked like they had two free guys running in there, which obviously is a huge mistake,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “Clearly you know they’re going to rush, and we have to do a better job, obviously.”

The Bengals added to their lead in the third quarter when backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski led a nine-play, 80-yard drive on the opening possession, with Peerman capping it on a 1-yard run. Peerman finished with a team-high 30 yards on seven carriers.

Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton and most of the offensive starters played just two series. The first was a three-and-out, but the second lasted 15 plays and covered 76 yards before bogging down after a first-and-goal at the 5, resulting in a Mike Nugent 22-yard field goal.

“It was OK for the first preseason game,” said Dalton, who completed 4-of-9 passes for 54 yards. “We had a good drive, but obviously we didn’t put it in (the end zone). I think BenJarvus (Green-Ellis) showed what he can do as a runner and a receiver for us.”

Green-Ellis, the former New England running back who signed with the Bengals in the offseason, rushed seven times for 22 yards and had one reception for 18 yards.

Armon Binns and Brandon Tate, the two receivers vying for the starting job opposite A.J. Green, each had two catches for 24 yards, while Green was held without a catch.

Defensively, the Bengals recorded five sacks. Rookie Brandon Thompson recovered a fumble on a Dontay Moch sack, and rookie linebacker Vontaze Burfict made a diving interception of a Tim Tebow pass to thwart a Jets drive at the Cincinnati 31 in the third quarter.

Tebow entered the game in relief of starter Mark Sanchez in the second quarter and finished 4-of-8 for 27 yards. He also rushed four times for 34 yards. Sanchez was 4-of-6 for 21 yards.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis did not comment on the severity of the injuries to his four starters, but Maualuga was seen walking around the sidelines encouraging teammates after leaving the field.

Cincinnati will travel to Atlanta for a nationally televised game Thursday night.