PITTSBURGH (AP) -Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's weekly news conference Tuesday was different from any previous one this season. He didn't spend the first five minutes reciting what formerly was one of the NFL's longest injury lists.
Running back Willie Parker, defensive end Brett Keisel and nose tackle Casey Hampton are expected to play Sunday against AFC North rival Cincinnati after missing multiple games. Parker (knee) and Keisel (calf) are practicing again, and Hampton (groin) is expected to practice by Thursday.
``We're getting pretty healthy,'' Tomlin said.
The only players ruled out for Sunday are fullback Carey Davis (ankle), backup wide receiver Dallas Baker (separated shoulder) and linebacker Keyaron Fox, who plays mostly on special teams.
Parker, the NFL's third-leading rusher through two games, has been out since spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sept. 21 against Philadelphia. Keisel has missed most of four games and Hampton most of three games. Parker and Hampton were Pro Bowl players last season.
``Willie's just going to get better with confidence as we push forward,'' Tomlin said. ``He's not 100 percent (when he moves laterally), but he looked pretty good.''
The division-leading Steelers (4-1) appear to be getting healthy at the right time, with their schedule about to get tougher. After Sunday, the Steelers play four of five at home, starting with the Super Bowl champion Giants on Oct. 26.
After that, the Steelers face the Redskins, Colts, Chargers, Patriots, Cowboys, Ravens, Titans and Browns among their final nine games.
Tomlin downplayed the Bengals' record - what coach about to meet a winless team doesn't? - and pointed to the Steelers' 19-16 overtime loss to the New York Jets last season. The Steelers were 7-2 going into that game and the Jets were 1-8.
Tomlin also said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick presents problems because he runs more efficiently than injured starter Carson Palmer, averaging 6.4 yards on 10 carries.
The problem is Fitzpatrick doesn't throw nearly as well, and has only one touchdown pass and three interceptions in three games. As a result, the Bengals' biggest threats, receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson, often go long stretches without seeing the ball.
Houshmandzadeh has 38 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns; through six games last season, he had 51 receptions for 548 yards and eight TDs. Johnson's dropoff has been even steeper, with only 19 catches for 216 yards and a TD compared to 39 catches for 680 yards and three TDs in 2007.
``When you don't have a healthy Carson Palmer, it makes life tough,'' Tomlin said. ``There's a lot of reasons why their record is their record, but we're not concerned about their record.''
Tomlin made one surprise personnel announcement - if left tackle Marvel Smith (back spasms) can't go, and that appears unlikely, one-time right tackle starter Max Starks would replace him.
Starks is the team's highest-paid offensive lineman with a nearly $7 million salary but has been stuck to the bench. When Smith couldn't finish the 26-21 victory at Jacksonville on Oct. 5, Trai Essex replaced him rather than Starks.
Kicker Jeff Reed developed a groin problem in Jacksonville but, with the Steelers coming off a bye week, they didn't bother bringing in another kicker for a tryout.
``Jeff had better go,'' Tomlin said. ``I don't want to think about Jeff not going.''
Baker's injury could result in the first meaningful playing time for rookie wide receiver Limas Sweed, who was drafted to provide the taller downfield threat that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger requested after last season.
Despite being a second-round pick, Sweed hasn't been able to beat out backups Nate Washington and Baker and was deactivated for four of the first five games. He didn't play in the one game he was in uniform.
``He just needs to have consistency in route running, catching the football and assignments,'' Tomlin said. ``It's that simple. He has improved and, really, he's been on the brink of deserving an opportunity.''
