Hearst Is No. 1 With Bengals

There’s no more dispute about it: Garrison Hearst is the Cincinnati Bengals’ featured running back.

In a slight departure from the previous regime, Coach Bruce Coslet said that Hearst is his starting running back. Hearst and Ki-Jana Carter had shared the job under Dave Shula, who was fired as coach on Monday.

“Garrison Hearst is our starter,” Coslet said. “He won’t play straight through. Ki-Jana is Garrison’s backup. He’ll play. And [Eric] Bieniemy will continue to be more featured on third down.”

Hearst has carried 75 times for 321 yards, a 4.3-yard average. Carter has 53 carries for 133 yards, a 2.5 average.