It's official:

Bill Cowher really likes Ike.

Ike Taylor, a fourth-round pick in 2003, has done more than move ahead of Ricardo Colclough and rookie Bryant McFadden in the battle of young cornerbacks. He might be close to unseating veteran Willie Williams as one of the starting cornerbacks.

"Ike Taylor is pushing," Cowher said yesterday. "He's played very well. At this point, I think it's important he's gone to that next level that he stays there. That, to me, is his challenge."

Taylor is the top backup at both cornerback positions, but is also the first extra defensive back when the Steelers use their nickel and dime packages.

Not only did he have a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown in the 38-31 preseason victory Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, he made a leaping interception of a deep pass by Eagles quarterback Koy Detmer at the end of the first half.

"I think Ike Taylor is a more focused, more mature player," Cowher said. "This year has been a big year for him. People grow, people mature, people become more comfortable, people become more driven. I don't know why.

"I like the way he approached the game. [It was] a very business-like approach, a blue-collar approach, every day he walks on that field. He's got a lot of gifts."

Taylor's rise to prominence is a drastic turnaround from last season when he fell into disfavor with the coaching staff and was demoted. Some players have said Taylor's development is merely because he is finally understanding how to play cornerback, a position he didn't start playing until his senior season at Louisiana-Lafayette.

But Taylor said it is more than that.

"I think the coaches wanted to sit me down and look at things from a different perspective," Taylor said. "I took it in stride, and it made me get better.

"When they drafted me, I had only played 12 games of cornerback in college. I look at it like this is my senior year of playing cornerback."

Taylor agrees with Cowher that he is a more mature person ... and player.

"I've seen what he can do," Cowher said. "I like where he's at. I like his focus, his mindset, the way he's approaching the game. I don't want to see him go backward. That's the challenge he has."

Asked if he is ready to be a starter, Cowher said, "We'll see. He's had a good camp."

Injury updates

Cowher said four players will not play in the preseason game tomorrow night against the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field -- running back Duce Staley (knee), outside linebacker Joey Porter (knee), wide receiver Sam Simmons (finger) and cornerback Vontez Duff (shoulder). Curiously, Simmons was a fifth-round pick of the Dolphins in 2002.

Cowher confirmed that Staley's injury -- a torn meniscus that required arthroscopic surgery Aug. 8 -- is worse than the injury sustained by Porter, who had surgery to remove loose cartilage. Both players are expected to miss the entire preseason.

"Duce's injury is probably a little more severe than Joey's," Cowher said. "But we're probably still pushing for the first game with both players."

Jerome Bettis, who carried just three times for 7 yards against the Eagles, will start against the Dolphins. But the Steelers don't want to overwork Bettis in the preseason, or even early in the season, because of Staley's injury.

"We're going to be spelling Jerome early in the season so we don't wear him down," Cowher said.

Cowher said rookie wide receiver Fred Gibson, who sustained a sprained shoulder trying to make a diving catch against Philadelphia, is doubtful for the game against the Dolphins. He did not practice for the second day in a row.

Colclough (hip flexor), who returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown against the Eagles, and McFadden (hamstring), did not practice. Cowher said he kept both players out because he wants them to play against the Dolphins.

Defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen (back) also did not practice, but is expected to play against Miami.

Ward will start

Cowher also said wide receiver Hines Ward, who ended his 15-day holdout and worked out for the first time Wednesday, will start against the Dolphins.

"I'm here," Ward said. "I'm practicing, I'll be playing."

Minor skirmish

Reserve defensive tackle Grant Bowman and free-agent center Ben Claxton had to be separated by players and coaches when they got into an altercation in which Bowman had his helmet tugged from his head.

Bowman became upset during a one-on-one pass-rush drill when he failed to get past Claxton, then responded by shoving him in the facemask. When he lined up for a rematch, the 300-pound Bowman slipped coming out of his stance, and Claxton shoved him to the ground, drawing laughs from his teammates.

Bowman stood up and went after Claxton, who ripped off Bowman's helmet. Bowman responded by grabbing Claxton's facemask and hitting him in the helmet.

Practice schedule

The Steelers will hold a light walk-through practice this morning at St. Vincent College that is closed to the public. There will be no afternoon practice.