Parker's still out

The Pittsburgh Steelers held their first practice of August Wednesday morning and it’s beginning to look as if head coach Mike Tomlin is going to be somebody who is not to be trusted when it comes to talking about injuries.

After Tomlin said running back Willie Parker was being held out of practice Tuesday for rest, Parker missed practice again this morning and had a large ice pack on his left knee while he spoke with trainer John Norwig.

Could be a bone contusion or just a little swelling – and that’s likely what it is – but when the head coach won’t talk about it, it sets off the reporter radar. Guess that's something the coach is going to have to learn.

The same goes for linebacker James Harrison, who sat out again today with what Tomlin said Friday was just sore ribs. Those sore ribs have now kept Harrison out for nearly a week.

Travis Kirschke and Chris Hoke returned today after getting a day of rest Tuesday – though Hoke didn’t do any team work.

Also out of action were Darnell Stapleton and, of course, Lawrence Timmons.

This Timmons injury is beginning to really drag on and if it continues, he may struggle just to stay active on game days this fall. He's missed that much time.

Hines Ward and Cedrick Wilson are definitely running as the first-team receivers right now. Santonio Holmes, Nate Washington and Willie Reid – who continues to look good – are next in line.

Reid made a tremendous catch just in front of the goal line on a Charlie Batch pass during team drills, leaping above safety Grant Mason to pull the ball away. He just needs to stay healthy.