After two days of practicing following an emergency appendectomy, Hines Ward said he is feeling no pain and looking forward to Monday night's opener against the New England Patriots.
That, though, will be the first time he will take a hard hit after having surgery Aug. 23 and not playing in the final two preseason games.
"The doctors said the healing process is 10 days, and I'm well over 10 days," Ward said. "We're not hitting on each other, anyway, out here. My first contact will be against the New England Patriots. But I fell down, had bump and run, got tugged, and I didn't feel any pain. I'm looking forward to it."
Ward's value to the Steelers receiving corps goes beyond the team-leading 94 receptions and 1,003 receiving yards he compiled in 2001. He is also one of the NFL's best blocking receivers, if not the best. Just ask Cleveland safety Earl Little, who was knocked from the game last season by a crushing Ward block.
But Ward caught only three passes for 48 yards in the preseason and was worried about his timing with quarterback Kordell Stewart.
"I'm feeling good health-wise, and I'm just starting to get back into catching balls," Ward said. "You miss a week or two, and your timing with the quarterback is not where you want to be. I think it's coming along. Kordell and I are starting to get on the same page, and I'm out there making catches like I used to."
Cricks and sprains
Pro Bowl linebacker Jason Gildon woke up with a stiff neck and did not practice yesterday for precautionary reasons. He is expected to resume practicing today and will play against the Patriots.
His backup is Clark Haggans, who has resumed practicing after his knee was sprained Aug. 24 against the Detroit Lions.
Ross to start
Oliver Ross is expected to start at right guard against the Patriots, even though Coach Bill Cowher has not made an official announcement.
But Kendall Simmons, the team's No. 1 draft pick, was glad to hear Cowher say he intends to work him in with their first-team offense during the game. Especially after Simmons missed the final two preseason games with a hamstring injury.
"It kind of lets me know where I am with him," Simmons said. "I have to go back out there and pick it up again."
Simmons started the second preseason game against the Washington Redskins when Wayne Gandy was injured and Ross moved to left tackle. But he did not fare very well against Redskins defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson.
"I just got a lot of work to do," Simmons said. "I think that's a factor with any young lineman. You come in, you got a lot of technique and stuff to work on. I could kind of overpower people in certain situations in college, and it's not the same here. You have to be more technically sound to play up here."
Ross, a converted tackle, started four games last season at right guard when Rich Tylski was injured. The Steelers thought enough of him to match an offer sheet Ross received from the Cleveland Browns as a restricted free agent. Nonetheless, Cowher said Ross is more comfortable at tackle than guard.
"I've been playing tackle all through college until last year," Ross said. "I'm just more comfortable out there."
Hair tomorrow
Several years ago, Cowher sported a beard in training camp and throughout the preseason, only to shave before the start of the regular season. Don't expect the same thing this time.
Cowher said he plans to keep the beard, as long as he doesn't mess it up when he trims it.
Ironic, isn't it, that Cowher will sport the beard in the first regular-season game at Gillette Stadium?
Patriot AWOL
Patriots middle linebacker Ted Johnson left the team Wednesday for undisclosed reasons.
He was with the team Monday but did not show up at the Foxboro, Mass. practice facility when the players reconvened Wednesday, and he wasn't at practice or meetings again yesterday.
It was not known if Johnson's departure is related to his contract, which was restructured for the sixth time in March, or personal issues.
Johnson agreed to have his 2002 base salary cut from $3.1 million to $650,000, although he still received a $1 million roster bonus. He was set to count $4 million against this year's salary cap.
Johnson, 6 feet 4, 253 pounds, backs up Tedy Bruschi at middle linebacker and is one of the Patriots' top run stuffers. He played with Kordell Stewart at the University of Colorado.
Bruschi, who has been bothered by a sprained knee, has been cleared to play against the Steelers.
Steelers Report: Ward says he's healed and ready 
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