updated 3:44 p.m. ET Aug. 24, 2008

CINCINNATI - Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer broke his nose during Saturday night’s preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, but coach Marvin Lewis said he should be ready for the regular season opener.

Lewis said in a statement Sunday that Palmer had a small crack in one of his nose bones and it took doctors about 10 minutes to put it back in place.

Palmer is listed as questionable for Cincinnati’s preseason finale Thursday at Indianapolis, but is expected to start the opener Sept. 7 against Baltimore.

The team said fourth-year quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will make his first Bengals preseason start if Palmer is unable to play.

Palmer was sacked three times by the Saints in the first half, the last on a safety blitz by Kevin Kaesviharn with 2 seconds left. The quarterback walked off the field with blood spilling down the front of his face, his nose already showing a prominent bump. He didn’t return for the second half.

Palmer got knocked to the ground five times during a 27-10 loss to Detroit a week earlier.

He was 11-of-16 against the Saints for 105 yards, working without Pro Bowl receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson due to injury. Two of their backups also were hurt in the week leading up to the game.

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Steelers’ playoff future slipping away   PFT: Steelers’ Batch out six weeks Bengals botch chances, lead in loss to Raiders Eagles shake off close losses, edge Bears Pats stifle Jets, take 2-game lead in AFC East   Video: Patriots make a statement Saints move to 10-0, but ‘haven’t peaked yet’ Colts survive vs. Ravens by a ‘small margin’ Chargers rout Broncos, move atop AFC West PFT’s Morning Aftermath: Broncos reeling NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: