Sheppard figures to see a Lito more action against Bengals

Lito Sheppard played one snap for the Eagles last week, when Asante Samuel hobbled off the field briefly.

That would make Lito one guy you can't blame for the loss to the Giants. This week, in Cincinnati, Sheppard ought to have a bigger role, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said yesterday, because Sheppard is healthier, and the Bengals frequently use three wideouts. The Eagles envision playing much of the game in their nickel package, with Samuel, Sheldon Brown and Sheppard as the top three corners.

Sheppard fought a groin problem all last week, not practicing until Friday, although he said yesterday that he made it clear much earlier in the planning for New York that he expected to be able to take the field for the game. Johnson said yesterday that right up until game day, he hadn't expected to have Sheppard, who was listed as "questionable," so he activated the two-time Pro Bowl corner in an emergency role, behind Samuel, Brown and Joselio Hanson.

Maybe it's a stretch to make the connection, but a year ago, when Sheppard was in and out of the lineup with an assortment of injuries, the team felt he played a bit too cautiously at times. There was one game in particular, against Seattle last Dec. 2, when Sheppard was playing on a sore knee and a mushy field, and was giving up a really huge cushion in coverage. Johnson yanked him and they held a heated sideline discussion.

Johnson has been very careful in what he has said about Sheppard this season, with everyone knowing Lito would rather be elsewhere in the wake of the Samuel signing and his own demotion from starting status. Sheppard, known throughout his career as a ballhawk, has been quite plain about wanting to play more. Yesterday, after Johnson puzzled over his corners' relatively paltry total of four interceptions in nine games, Sheppard was asked if he thought his decreased playing time might factor into that problem.

"[Opponents] have only been working Asante a lot - he's been getting a lot of the balls," said Sheppard, who has just one pick. His last healthy season, 2006, Sheppard intercepted six passes in 13 games. "So there haven't been a whole lot of opportunities for anybody else. I think if the offenses attack everybody more, we might come up with a couple more picks."

Samuel, who has three interceptions this season, left practice very early yesterday with what the Eagles said was a hip problem. Sheppard didn't foresee this situation getting him back into a starting role, however.