Steelers Update.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

+Steelers coach Bill Cowher said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made "significant progress" this week.

Roethlisberger had arthroscopic knee surgery last Thursday and will miss his second consecutive game Sunday against the Browns at Heinz Field. Backup Charlie Batch will make his second straight start. Batch struggled completing 9-of-16 passes for 65 yards in last Sunday's 20-10 win over the Packers.

"I'm not going to sit here and scrutinize the play of Charlie Batch," Cowher said. "Offensively, we have to do a much more efficient job of throwing the ball."

+RB Duce Staley could get his first start of the season Sunday, with No. 1 tailback Willie Parker listed as questionable with an ankle sprain, sustained early in the third quarter against the Packers, and Jerome Bettis questionable with a quadriceps bruise that kept him out of the Packers game.

Staley ran for 76 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown against the Packers. It was the first time he'd run the ball since the AFC Championship in January and just the second time he had dressed this season.

"We'll see where we are health-wise and we'll go from there," Cowher said. "A lot of this will be determined how the other guys get through the week. But I think it's safe to say that, based on the information that we have, he would."

+Steelers SS Troy Polamalu is on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated, with the headline, "Crunch Time ... NFL Midseason Report." In the issue, the long-haired Polamalu is featured in an article entitled "The Mane Man." He is also featured in a report on defensive stars who are younger than 25 and making an impact in the NFL.

In addition to the Polamalu piece, SI picks the Steelers to win the AFC North before losing in the divisional playoffs.

+Cowher spoke briefly about the Terrell Owens situation in Philadelphia, where the Pro Bowl wideout was jettisoned and is not welcome back due to insubordination, among other things. He was asked if Eagles coach Andy Reid did the right thing.

"Without a doubt. I have a lot of respect for Andy Reid. He has a better understanding of that situation than I do. But I support him and what he thinks he's doing is in the best interest of that team. Looking at it from afar, absolutely."

+Cowher said he is concerned with his team's inefficiency on third downs on offense and defense. The Steelers are converting just 28.7 percent, while allowing the opposition to convert at a 44 percent clip. In the past two weeks, the Steelers are 4 of 20 on third-down conversions, including 0 of 8 last week against the Packers. Meantime, Steelers opponents are 17 of 35 on third downs the past two games.

Despite the third-down woes, Cowher made it a point to laud his team for playing airtight football.

"I don't want to lose sight of the things we are doing very, very well -- not turning the football over, not taking foolish penalties. We're doing well in the kicking game; we are running the ball, for the most part, on a pretty consistent basis. We're stopping the run defensively. I know that you want to talk about some of the things that we're not doing. But I want our players to understand some of the things that they are doing."

INJURY REPORT:

QB Ben Roethlisberger
Knee
Out at least 1 more week


S Mike Logan
Hamstring
Will miss third game



LB James Farrior
Knee
Doubtful for Browns game Sunday



RB Jerome Bettis
Quadriceps
Could miss second in a row



RB Willie Parker
Ankle
Like Bettis, listed as questionable



LB Joey Porter
Knee
Questionable



LB Clark Haggans
Groin
Probable



LB James Harrison
Knee
Probable



DE Travis Kirschke
Back
Probable