It’s Deja Vu For Ex-Husky

They stretched side-by-side in the grass Thursday, then went their separate ways when practice began. Corey Dillon got most of the carries with the Cincinnati Bengals’ first-team offense; Ki-Jana Carter got only three.

At least for one week, Dillon is the featured back while Carter moves into the background, his future clouded by torn muscles in his left shoulder.

Carter has decided to postpone surgery on his torn rotator cuff and play as long as he can. Coach Bruce Coslet isn’t sure whether Carter will be available for a backup role Sunday against the New York Jets.

“I’m not prepared to make that decision now,” Coslet said.

While the former No. 1 draft pick tried to show the coaches he can play, Dillon went through a second day of practice as the No. 1 back. It’s a chance he never figured to get so soon.

Dillon is a second-round draft pick out of Washington, where he set school records with 1,555 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns last year as a junior. He became the starter when Rashaan Shehee hurt his ankle in the third game.

Now, he’s moved ahead of Carter, who aggravated his shoulder in the third game.

“I can’t believe it. It’s exactly the same scenario,” Dillon said. “I didn’t think it would come to this.”

A big game by Dillon on Sunday would make it harder for Carter to become the featured back again.

Packers struggle to 3-1 mark

The Green Bay Packers have shown only shades of the juggernaut that peaked last December and rolled through eight straight victories on the way to a Super Bowl title.

They’re 3-1, just like last year, although they easily could be 1-3.

They’ve hardly looked the part of a champion, in part because of injuries, and they’ve found that every opponent treats them like it’s Super Bowl Sunday.

“Every game has been a slugfest. It’s going to be that type of year,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s a very competitive league. We finished the season so strong last year. That in itself can be a little misleading.”

Despite the Packers being favored by double digits, each of the last three games have come down to the final minute.

“The thing is, if we keep trying to measure ourselves up to last year, then that’s when we’ll lose the point,” defensive end Reggie White said.

No touchdowns for Emmitt

Emmitt Smith has gone three games without a touchdown. He’s beginning to wonder if he’s ever going to catch Walter Payton.

Smith has scored 108 touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys, just two behind the former Chicago Bears star, who is in second place on the NFL career list. No. 1 on the list is Kansas City’s Marcus Allen with 113 and still counting.

“I really can’t be worried about Walter,” Smith said. “I just want to get into the end zone. Period. It’s been a long, long time.”

Smith’s touchdown production has dropped from 25 in 1995 to 12 last year to a zero this season.

“I need to get that monkey off my back,” Smith said. Dallas plays the winless Bears on Sunday in Texas Stadium.