LOOKING AHEAD

Steelers vs. Browns, 1 p.m. Sunday, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland. TV: KDKA. Radio: WDVE-AM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970) and Steelers Radio Network.

NOTEBOOK

Unless there's a setback, Marvel Smith likely will start at LT and two-time All-Pro Alan Faneca will return home to LG for the game Sunday in Cleveland. Smith has missed six of the past seven games with a pinched nerve in his neck, and Faneca moved to LT, where he started the past five games. Keydrick Vincent, who started in Faneca's place at guard, will return to the sideline. Smith's last start also came against the Browns at Heinz Field Oct. 5, but, after three plays, he left the game for good because of his injury. His last full game came Sept. 9 in Cincinnati.

"I had no idea it would take this long, that the season might be almost over with," Smith said of the lingering injury.

He said he feels fine now and does not expect to have a problem readjusting to the speed of the game. There had been speculation that Smith would play RT when he returned and that Faneca would stay at LT, but Smith said no one ever talked to him about that.

"It's definitely good to see Marvel back," Faneca said. "He's been out, struggling with it for so long. To see him fight through and get back out there, he's one of our starters, so it doesn't do anything but make us stronger."

Faneca said his first practice at guard in six weeks "felt a little awkward because I haven't been there in a while, but I'll be fine." The starting line of Smith, Faneca, C Jeff Hartings, RG Kendall Simmons and RT Oliver Ross is the one that was supposed to open the season, but it has not started a game together for various reasons. First, Todd Fordham beat out Ross at RT, then lost the job back to him. Then came the injury to Smith that caused the changes at LT and LG. Hartings and Simmons are the only ones to start at the same position all 10 games. This will be the fifth starting line combination this season.

"We should play better," Faneca said. "We're kicking on all systems finally, in week 12; we have to take that where we're at and keep moving."

Faneca said playing LT will make him a better offensive lineman.

"Definitely, now I can say I'm a proven backup left tackle. I'm there when they need me in the future."

WR Hines Ward has a swollen tongue, and that should be a lesson to all football players at all levels: Wear you're mouth guards. Ward said he does not wear one, and he paid the price when he dived for a pass Monday night in San Francisco, landed on his head and bit his tongue. He also had a sprained neck and a slight concussion from the fall and, when he got up, he was spitting blood. "It felt bad, but it's part of the game," he said. "I was very fortunate that nothing was really severely injured. It was a sprain and my neck pains and my tongue is a little swollen; I can't eat certain foods." He can't eat salty foods, but the salty Ward took his place at practice yesterday without missing a beat.

Ward caught four passes for 44 yards in San Francisco and had a few drops, including the one in which he was injured. "It wasn't one of my better games, I would have liked to make more plays," Ward said. "That was probably the worst game of my career ever, plus getting hurt like that; it's been awhile since I've been like that. So I had both of them at one time. That's why I come out here and fight hard, practice and get better, make sure it doesn't happen."

Four Steelers did not practice yesterday: RB Jerome Bettis, TE Jay Riemersma, OG Keydrick Vincent and WR Antwaan Randle El. The injury report for both teams: Steelers: TE Jay Riemersma (sternum) is doubtful; OT Marvel Smith (neck), OG Keydrick Vincent (groin) and CB Dewayne Washington (knee) are questionable; RB Jerome Bettis (shoulder), WR Plaxico Burress (shoulder), LB Clark Haggans (ankle), S Mike Logan (foot), WR Antwaan Randle El (toe) and TE Jerame Tuman (shoulder) are probable. Browns: FB R.J. Bowers (ankle) is questionable. OL Chad Beasley (toe), DE Kenard Lang (back), CB Michael Lehan (shoulder), CB Lewis Sanders (groin), LB Ben Taylor (back), LB Chaun Thompson (eye) and CB Roosevelt Williams (shoulder) are probable.

Yet more evidence of the strange workings of the convoluted stat they call the "passer rating": Tommy Maddox completed 25 of 44 passes for 327 yards, one interception and one touchdown against San Francisco Monday night. WR Antwaan Randle El completed his only pass but for a loss of 7 yards. Nevertheless, Randle El's passer rating was higher at 79.2 to 78.5 for Maddox.

LB James Farrior continues to make his case as the team MVP on defense. He leads with 66 unassisted tackles, leads with 77 total tackles and is tied for the lead with 10 tackles for losses. He's tied for second with four passes defensed and has one interception. All this, and he does not play in their dime passing defense.

Although they've lost four more games than they've won, the Steelers have scored 174 points and they've given up 174. ... Maybe they should try it on the next play: The Steelers have converted only 34.5 percent of their third downs (48 of 139), but they've made half of their fourth downs (7 of 14). ... Antwaan Randle El has completed both of his passes this season, for minus-3 yards. He's now completed 10 of 11 passes over his two NFL seasons. ... Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 93.7 against the Steelers. If that were one quarterback, he would rank fourth in the AFC in passer rating.