CINCINNATI — Just as wide receiver Mohamed Sanu did when A.J. Green was out with a toe injury, running back Jeremy Hill is giving the Cincinnati Bengals the luxury of patience in dealing with Giovani Bernard’s hip and clavicle injuries.

Hill, the team’s second-round pick from LSU, turned in one of the best rookie performances in franchise history Sunday, carrying 24 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the 33-23 victory over Jacksonville.

And with another game looming in a few days against AFC North rival Cleveland, it appears as though the Bengals will rest Bernard and ride Hill until at least the Nov. 16 game at New Orleans.

Limited to only 31 percent of the offensive snaps and 25 percent of the carries through the first seven games, Hill proved he was both dependable and durable against the Jaguars.

The 24 carries were the most by a Bengals rookie since Brandon Bennett had 25 in 1998, and 17 of them came after Hill suffered a knee injury in the second quarter.

Had he been unable to return, it would have left the Bengals with only two healthy running backs — Cedric Peerman and Rex Burkhead.

But Hill was back on the field one series later, and he rushed for 127 of his yards after halftime, including a 60-yard touchdown one play after the Jaguars had cut the lead to three in the fourth quarter.

It was a breakthrough performance similar to what Sanu did in the first game Green missed, when Sanu caught a career-high 10 passes for a career-high 120 yards. Two weeks ago, with Green sitting out his third consecutive game, Sanu set another career high with 125 yards.

Hill was the last player to leave the field Sunday, walking slowly toward the tunnel as a throng of fans cheered every step. And long after most of his teammates had showered and left his locker room, Hill was still in uniform, accommodating every last interview request.

“I’m just soaking it all in,” Hill said. “You never know when you’re going to get another opportunity like that.”

All indications are that his next opportunity is only a few days away.

REPORT CARD VS. JAGUARS

PASSING OFFENSE: B-minus — There was plenty of good, with Andy Dalton showing touch and zip on some big throws to Mohamed Sanu, but there also were some plays that could have led to a Bengals loss had it not been for Jeremy Hill’s big game and the fact they were playing a one-win opponent.

RUSHING OFFENSE: A — An easy A to hand out, but not an easy one to earn. Jacksonville’s defense was allowing 3.4 yards per carry and had allowed one rushing touchdown in the last four games, but Jeremy Hill went for 154 yards and two scores.

PASS DEFENSE: B-minus — The Bengals found themselves in the right spot repeatedly, only to let at least four interceptions bounce off their hands before George Iloka finally snared one in the end zone late in the fourth quarter to essentially seal the game.

RUSH DEFENSE: C-minus — Playing without starting linebackers Vontaze Burfict and Rey Maualuga, the Bengals allowed the Jaguars to gain 5.3 yards per carry for a total of 132 yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A — Two blocked punts and a couple of long returns to set up points were welcome contributions on an otherwise sloppy day for the offense and defense.

COACHING: B-plus – As big as Jeremy Hill’s day was, much of the credit goes to offensive coordinator Hue Jackson for the blocking schemes and especially for sticking with the plan despite a shaky start as Hill only had seven carries for 27 yards in the first half.