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Bengals' Maualuga likely to start against Cleveland

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga, left, and center Jonathan Luigs, right, connect during a drill at football minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium, Friday, May 1, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga, right, talks with linebackers coach Jeff Fitzgerald during the Bengals' rookie minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium, Friday, May 1, 2009, in Cincinnati.

AP Photo Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga, right, talks with linebackers coach Jeff Fitzgerald during the Bengals' rookie minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium, Friday, May 1, 2009, in Cincinnati.

By Carlos “Big C” Holmes, Staff Writer Updated 6:54 AM Friday, October 2, 2009

CINCINNATI — It appears the Cincinnati Bengals will have prized rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

Maualuga returned to practice Thursday, Oct. 1, after missing Wednesday due to a sprained knee sustained in the Pittsburgh game. Maualuga was carted off late in the third quarter with a knee injury but later returned. He finished the game with six tackles, including a stop of Willie Parker for a 2-yard loss.

Maualuga initially thought the worst when the injury occurred and revisited that moment during an interview before Thursday’s practice.

“I was like, ‘Oh crap! Please tell me nothing bad happened,” Maualuga said. “I was shocked and scared. It was like please God tell me that I didn’t pull something and that everything is fine. When I walked off the field I was feeling the pain but my leg felt fine. I was embarrassed because I got carted off and then came walking back.

“Some say I had heart for finishing the game. But our motto is “Not dead, can’t quit.” I felt that I’m not bleeding to death and my leg didn’t get chopped off, so why not go out there and finish the game.”

Maualuga described his injury as a Grade 2 MCL sprain.

It was first thought the linebacker might miss a week. But Maualuga’s playing status has been upgraded and barring a setback he will take the field against Cleveland.

Maualuga is preparing for a fierce battle with Cleveland and believes the time is now for the defense to step up its game.

“We have to step up and pick it up from last week against Pittsburgh,” he said. “We had a bunch of mistakes and let a lot of big plays happen. I think if we minimize those mistakes we’ll be well on our way to becoming one of the top defenses in the league. It all has to come together starting this week against Cleveland. There is no room for error.”

Maualuga has been a sparkplug on defense and is making a smooth transition into the pros. He credits tough love from the coaching staff.

“I told (linebackers) coach [Jeff] FitzGerald not to treat me like a rookie,” Maualuga said. “I told him to treat me just like any other guy that he would coach. You know, guys like Ray Lewis when he coached in Baltimore. He’s coached some of the best linebackers ever and I strive to be the best. It’s an honor to be coached by Fitz.”

Maualuga went on to say that each week FitzGerald gets on him about doing the right things because he expects a lot out of him. He said he likes it because each week he’s getting better.

Maualuga is tied with veteran linebacker Dhani Jones for third on the team in tackles with 17. The rookie has also accounted for one sack and two forced fumbles.

“With Rey, you knew from the start that the game was not going to be too big for him,” head coach Marvin Lewis said. “He loves the challenge, he does everything at full speed, and he does it with an impact.”

Although the Bengals (2-1) aren’t taking the Browns (0-3) lightly, they’re not traveling to Cleveland thinking negatively, Maualuga said.

“Our coach says teams are supposed to win games they are supposed to win,” Maualuga said. “The only people that can beat us is us. We know that we are a team capable of beating the Browns. Our mindset is to go up there and continue to do what we’ve been doing. Like coach said, we have to win. And we don’t expect anything less.”

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