Posted at 9:06 a.m., Friday, October 5, 2007
NFL: Steelers' Ward out; Polamalu battling rib injury
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward will miss his second game in a row Sunday because of a right knee injury.Ward has been unable to practice since he was hurt Sept. 23 against San Francisco.
Before sitting out last weekend's 21-14 loss at Arizona, Ward had missed only three games to injury in his 10-year NFL career.
Ward will miss the Steelers' first game against Seattle since he was the MVP of their 21-10 win over the Seahawks in the February 2006 Super Bowl.
The Steelers are off next week, and Ward said it might be wise to rest again this week so the injury has more time to heal.
Ward may not be the only notable Steelers player held out Sunday. Nose tackle Casey Hampton (hamstring) and safety Troy Polamalu (rib cage cartilage) did not practice all week and are listed as questionable.
Normally, the Steelers don't play any player who doesn't practice during the week. But coach Mike Tomlin said Polamalu might play, and Hampton said he would be a game-time decision.
Polamalu and Hampton were pulled from the Arizona game after getting hurt, but Tomlin did not list either player on his first injury report of the week Tuesday.
Polamalu was initially said to have an abdominal strain, but additional tests run after he returned to Pittsburgh revealed the cartilage problem.
Backup cornerback Bryant McFadden (ankle) is also out of the Seattle game. He was hurt in Arizona.
