BY GEOFF HOBSON
Scott Mitchell said he could play a game Wednesday, but Bengals coach Dick LeBeau held off on naming a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against Arizona.
All indications are the starter will be Mitchell if he's healthy, but LeBeau wants to see his sprained left knee in action during practice. Mitchell shared the snaps with Akili Smith during Wednesday morning's walk through and LeBeau indicated they'll do the same during afternoon practice.
Mitchell missed last week's game with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee after engineering Cincinnati's most productive passing day of the season in a 16-13 loss in New England the week before.
LeBeau said Mitchell's knee has improved immensely, but he said the 11-year veteran will have to show good mobility to get the nod.
"We'll see how he goes through the week," LeBeau said. "I thought he did a very good job in New England. I thought Akili did a better job last week. I thought a part of that was stepping back and taking a big breath and all the things we talked about."
With Smith 348 passing yards shy of a $1.7 million incentive for next season and his status as the quarterback of the future, LeBeau was asked it the quarterback decision is his call alone.
"It's mine," LeBeau said. "100 percent."
