Steelers update.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:


Staley says leave Parker in there
Duce Staley hopped aboard the Willie Parker train last Sunday -- and he has no immediate intentions of jumping off.

Ward anxious to get more passes thrown his way
"We won, that's all that counted," he said.

A perennial Pro Bowl receiver who's averaged 95 catches the past four seasons, Ward had two receptions for 25 yards in the opener. He smiled when asked if he needed a little more action.

"Of course, all wide receivers want to catch all the balls," Ward said. "But the game plan that day was for us to go out and run the ball. I only had two attempts, so I made the most of it."

The Steelers' run-to-pass total vs. the Titans was 41 to 11. It marked the fewest number of passes attempted by the team in 28 years. Their top three receivers - Ward, Antwaan Randle El and Cedrick Wilson - tied for the team lead with two receptions each Sunday.


Notebook: Roethlisberger rests knee
+Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sat out of practice Wednesday to rest his injured right knee. Coach Bill Cowher described the injury as a bone bruise a day earlier. Roethlisberger sat on a water-cooler with ice wrapped around the knee while Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch handled quarterback duties. Roethlisberger remained probable (75 percent) for Sunday's game in Houston, based on the post-practice injury report. Prior to the workout, Roethlisberger was asked about his knee. "It's OK," he said. "You gotta talk to coach Cowher."

+Running back Jerome Bettis (calf) did not practice yesterday and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game in Houston. RB Duce Staley (knee) practiced and moved well. He is listed as questionable. Eight other players remain probable: LG Alan Faneca (quadriceps); LB Clark Haggans (groin); LB Joey Porter (knee); Roethlisberger (knee); LT Marvel Smit h (knee); RT Max Starks (ankle); WR Hines Ward (back); and CB Willie Williams (groin).

+Wide receiver Nate Washington , who was cut Tuesday so the Steelers could place Batch on the 53-man roster, was re-signed to the practice squad yesterday. Washington led the Steelers in receiving in the preseason and seemed like a possible option as the fourth receiver before the club signed Quincy Morgan days before the opener.

+Ike Taylor might have supplanted Willie Williams at cornerback. Taylor, who was praised by Cowher for his effort in the opener, ran with the first team during yesterday's workout. Williams was de-activated for the opener due to a groin injury and Taylor started in his place. "If they decide to keep Ike out there, that's fine with me," Williams said. "I've been around for 13 years and have been blessed to play that many years. And whatever I can do to help this team win games, then, hey, I'm fine. I don't have time to go around crying about the decision." Williams said. Asked if he'll play this Sunday, Williams wasn't certain. "I don't know. I'm just approaching it as if I'm going to be on the field, but the decision is made by the head man, and I have to live with it and just go on my merry way, because I don't have time to walk around here moping and groping because I'm not playing."

+Third-team QB Charlie Batch was re-signed Monday, but there is always the possibility of getting cut again. Should he get cut again, Batch has the option of seeking employment elsewhere in the NFL. "That's also a possibility," Batch said. "To sit here and tell you how things are going to be like in the future, I am day-by-day."

+Rookie LB Frazier talked about his first NFL sack in the opener, which led to a fumble. "It was shocking," he said. "It just happened so quickly. I really dint know if it was a sack or not. I didn't know if he had thrown the ball, but everybody started congratulating me so it was cool."