The Steelers have submitted their Wednesday injury report.
And though the bad news came with the announcement that defensive end Aaron Smith has been placed on injured reserve, there’s good news.
Safety Troy Polamalu fully participated in practice.
Polamalu suffered a sprained MCL during the season-opening win over the Titans. He has practiced sparingly in recent days, but he has not yet returned to game action.
Barring a setback, it appears that he’ll play on Sunday against the Browns.
Running back Willie Parker, who has missed the last two games with a toe injury, also participated fully in practice. It remains to be seen when or if he takes back his starting job from 2008 first-rounder Rashard Mendenhall.
But the Steelers still have their fair share of injuries. Guard Trai Essex (ankle), linebacker James Farrior (elbow), linebacker Andre Frazier (thigh), and defensive Travis Kirschke (back) did not practice on Wednesday. (Receiver Hines Ward also didn’t practice, due to the dreaded “not injury related” designation.)
Polamalu should take another week off to be absolutely sure he’s recovered. Even if Anderson lights up the board for the Browns and completes 3 of his passes, I’m pretty sure the Steelers can overcome this “challenge.”
Hines Ward gets days off all the time, hes an old man and Tomlin helps him out with those extra days, nothing “dreaded” about it. Other than being old.
Cue the 27 people who can’t detect Florio’s sarcasm and find it necessary to chastise him for not knowing that Ward never practices on Wednesdays.
Aaron Smith will be sorely missed but Polamalu is definitely a breath of fresh air for the secondary. I just hope he is 100% for next weekend vs. the Viqueens. (Yes…I am looking past the Browns, think you can forgive me?)
Yep, Ward gets every Wednesday off. No news there.
@ kravenm3 – For hoping Polamalu is 100% against us,surely you must be concerned. So what does that make you guys when you get rolled up by the Viqueens?? The Squeelers? Hope you guys can give us a game, sick of watching our second team play the 4th quarter.
Kravenm3 – We forgive you. It sucks to be us right now.
Percy…Don’t worry. It’s going to be a game. A hell of a game actually. With Favre as your QB of course its’ going to be good to have Troy out there for us. Why wouldn’t we want Troy out there causing havoc for Brett? Concerned? I don’t know, but I don’t think you’ll find a Steelers fan who says that the Vikes aren’t a good team. Personally I’m not “concerned” about the game at all, I’m stoked for it. It’s going to be interesting. A Steelers pass defense improved with the return of Troy. A Steelers run defense injured with the loss of Aaron Smith, being replaced by a commitee of players. I’m intrigued as to how the Vike’s are going to attack us. I’m also intrigued about what the Steelers are going to have schemed to try and reel in the man-beast of a DE you have in Jared Allen.
Don’t be so cocky. Even with Aaron Smith out I wouldn’t necessarily count on AP having a great game. And Favre’s gunslinging is a great fit for Troy’s “pop out of nowhere…from nowhere, and grab a one-handed intereception” playmaking ability.
It’s good to have confidence in your team. Even with the troubles the Steelers are having right now I have the utmost confidence in them every week. Even you have to admit it has the potential to be a phenomenal game.
So…to answer your question. YES! We want Troy at 100% for the Vikes game. Do you really get that riled up when someone calls them the “Viqueens”? I’ve been reading here long enough to really ignore the OH SO creative (detect the sarcasm) nicknames that opposing teams fans give. To proclaim that the Steelers are going to get “rolled up” by the Vikings? If there’s one thing I know to count on as a life long Steeler fan, it’s don’t count them out. They’re not playing the best football right now, but people tend to focus and talk about the negatives a lot more than they do the positives of what’s going on.
p.s. – Be worried about the Ravens this week (Although I am hoping the Vikes win). Not someone calling your team the “Viqueens”.
@PervyHarvin
Becareful what you wish for . You just might get it . No worries about Troy at all . If your healthy and practice you get a hat . Tomlin knows that he is doing just ask Mendenhall .
Smith is a beast . But Tomlin wasnt confident in naming Hood as his replacement saying ” By no means is Ziggy ready to assume that role” One might think that its a negative to Hood not being ready . With Tomlin i think its his hidden motivation in one taking the pressure of off Hood so he doesnt try to hard to actually hurt the team . And i think it also means he is really challanging Hood to show why the Steelers did indeed take him with his first round pedigree .
So Mike show them all why your a great coach and know how to get the most from your players .
@ Vox’s Mommy and steeltownpride-
First let me say that my post was a lil smack in response to the “Viqueen” jab. All in good fun. I would be the first to tell you that I’m a fan of Polamalu,I love great players on any team. If you read my post today on the Ravens soft secondary thread you would see that I thought the Steeler game would be the real test.I think we will beat the Ravens at home by air Favre.Sure you do want us to also as you said,a shot to play us as an unbeaten. Be great drama.
Remember where Tomlin came from,us,I respect the guy. You guys didn’t get to be champs by being chuds. I’m not going to be cocky one bit about our game, will be on the edge of my seat the whole game. I just hope Favre throws away from Troy if he is out there healthy! Guys a ball hawk. I’m interested in seeing how you attack our Off. Teams that try on AD too much get passed on with Favre. Sure Tomlin will have a plan a lil more balanced then the teams we faced.Will Ben bomb our D backs ?
We are both good teams. May the best team on that day win.
Finally a real team for the Viqueens to play. Shame it is actually 2 weeks away.
Percy, quality post my friend. I know it’s all in good fun too. A lot of people get too riled up though just b/c someone calls their team a stupid name. I’ve been dealing with squeelers and stealers for a while now LOL. It does get old. Either way, it’s gonna be a good one. Cheers
Vox’s Mommy says:
October 14, 2009 9:45 PM
A lot of people get too riled up though just b/c someone calls their team a stupid name.
I’ve been dealing with squeelers and stealers for a while now LOL. It does get old. Either way, it’s gonna be a good one. Cheers
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Let’s not forget “Zittsburgh” and also (mostly in regards to the Pirates) “Quitsburgh”…
:^P
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