Thursday update

A little late with this, but I had other things to take care of first.

Though he's been cleared for contact again, don't expect Ben Roethlisberger to play Sunday in Baltimore.

Just the fact that Roethlisberger is talking about coming back last season to play against San Francisco - a game where he was beaten up - and then sitting out the next week against St. Louis, tells me that conversation has already taken place between the quarterback and Mike Tomlin.

The Steelers will take their lumps this week and hope to come back stronger next week at home against San Diego in order to roll down the stretch.

That's the play to make at this point. With Baltimore holding a three-game lead, the Steelers would need a miracle to win the division even if they were to win this weekend.

Roethlisberger should practice fully next week and be ready to go.

@ Dick LeBeau said he doesn't necessarily expect Troy Polamalu to be on the field full time on Sunday as he works to get his wind back.

Then again, he said the same thing a few weeks back about James Harrison, and Harrison never came off the field in his first game back. Great players never want to come off the field.

But even if Polamalu only plays on passing downs - which I don't expect - his presence could be huge.

@ Willie Colon missed practice again Thursday and that's troubling. On the plus side, Max Starks was back.