Suddenly, the Cincinnati Bengals need help on offense.

Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson strained his left shoulder last night during the visiting Detroit Lions' 27-10 victory over the Bengals, who now have their top two receivers and their starting tailback limited by injuries.

Johnson landed awkwardly on his left side after cornerback Brian Kelly intercepted a pass thrown his way on Cincinnati's first series. He rolled on the field in pain for several seconds, then went to the locker room for an examination. He did not return.

Coach Marvin Lewis said the shoulder popped out and back into place on the field. Medical tests found no fracture.

"I think he should be ready by the opener," Lewis said. "Some of these things come back right away, and they're ready to go. A lot of players play with these things."

The Bengals already were missing Pro Bowl receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and running back Rudi Johnson. Both of them have missed the first two preseason games with hamstring injuries.

Detroit got the better of it in the first quarter, when both teams played their starters.

Jon Kitna had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 for the second straight game. Playing in the stadium where he started the Bengals' resurgence in 2003, Kitna was much better than Carson Palmer, the No. 1 draft pick who took his place in Cincinnati.

Right away, Kitna tested a redesigned Bengals defense that has the cornerbacks aggressively covering receivers. He threw a 40-yard pass to Calvin Johnson on the opening play, letting the receiver beat cornerback Leon Hall on a sideline route.

That drive came up short in part because of an offensive pass interference penalty on Roy Williams. The next time the Lions got the ball, Kitna threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Johnson, who ran past cornerback Johnathan Joseph for an easy score.

Kitna completed his three passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, leaving him 9-of-10 for 146 yards with a pair of touchdowns in the preseason.

"We basically kept it simple," Kitna said. "If we keep getting protection like that, we can do whatever we want. We've passed the ball well the last two years and knew we were going to be able to throw the football. But we've got to keep working on the running game to help our defense."

In an ominous sign for the Bengals, Palmer was repeatedly hit as he threw and got sacked once. He was only 6 of 13 for 50 yards with the one costly interception. He led Chad Johnson a bit too much, giving Kelly a chance to knock the ball free and grab it in the air.

Detroit linebacker, Jordon Dizon, a Waimea High alum, had two tackles and two assists. Detroit defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis, a Kalaheo and University of Hawai'i, had one tackle and two assists.

BUCS TOP PATRIOTS, 27-10

No Tom Brady equals little offense for the New England Patriots this preseason.

With the 2007 MVP sitting out for the second straight week, the defending AFC champions sputtered with backup Matt Cassel running the show in a 27-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last night at Tampa, Fla.

Brady didn't make the trip to Tampa, reportedly remaining home to rest a sore foot, and Cassel had limited success moving the ball against a feisty Bucs defense that scored on his third-quarter fumble and intercepted the first pass thrown by successor, Kevin O'Connell.

"I think it was pretty obvious we've got a lot of work to do, based on tonight, in all three phases of the game," said New England coach Bill Belichick, who played down the significance of Brady not playing.

Bucs starting quarterback Jeff Garcia also has yet to play this preseason after missing most of training camp with a sprained right calf. His absence is creating plenty of opportunities for Brian Griese, Luke McCown and Chris Simms to build their cases for being No. 2.

Griese and McCown produced a 17-3 halftime lead, with the Patriots scoring on Stephen Gostkowski's 53-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter.

Blitzing safety Sabby Piscitelli scooped up an errant shotgun snap to Cassel and ran 24 yards for a touchdown that made 24-3 early in the third.

Griese, listed third on the depth chart, got the start and directed an impressive 17-play, 80-yard TD drive on the first possession of the night. Earnest Graham finished the nine-plus minute march with a 1-yard run.

"It was a good opportunity for us to go against a quality defense," said Griese, who worked two series and completed nine of 10 passes for 44 yards.

McCown, who entered camp No. 2 after winning one of three starts last season, produced a 34-yard field goal and threw a 1-yard TD pass to Byron Storer to complete an eight-play, 86-yard drive in the second quarter.

Randy Moss, the other half of New England's elite passing combination, made his preseason debut and caught two passes for 25 yards.

VIKINGS

QB JACKSON HURTS KNEE

The initial diagnosis was that Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson suffered a bruised right knee in Saturday's preseason game at Baltimore, but further tests revealed a sprain to his MCL, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Vikings coach Brad Childress was not available for comment yesterday, but it's reasonable to think the injury could keep Jackson out Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jackson suffered the injury while scrambling in the first quarter of a 23-15 victory against the Ravens. Rather than slide to avoid contact, Jackson took on a hit by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and then safety Dawan Landry.

STEELERS

POLAMALU MAY PRACTICE

Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, out with an injured hamstring, could return to practice tomorrow.

Coach Mike Tomlin indicated after weekend practices that the team is ready to remove Polamalu from the physically unable to perform list when the team breaks camp today at Saint Vincent College and heads back to the Pittsburgh facility.

BILLS

TE SCHOUMAN OUT

Buffalo Bills tight end Derek Schouman missed practice yesterday and is out indefinitely with a strained left knee, all but ending his chance to win the starting job out of training camp.

Coach Dick Jauron said trainers informed him that it will be weeks before Schouman is expected to be cleared for practice, meaning the player likely will miss the Bills' two final preseason games.