Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Ike Taylor is the only sure starter at defensive back this Sunday for the Steelers. Click photo for larger image.

The Steelers should have most, if not all, of their cornerbacks in uniform and ready to play tomorrow against the Cincinnati Bengals. The only question is which cornerback will start along with Ike Taylor.

Deshea Townsend (hamstring/questionable) practiced for the second day in a row and will play against the Bengals, but he likely will appear only in the nickel and dime packages. The Steelers don't want to risk further damage by playing Townsend every down.

Usually, Willie Williams (groin/questionable) would replace Townsend, but he practiced on a limited basis yesterday and his status won't be known until game time.

That means rookie Bryant McFadden, the team's No. 2 draft pick, could start against the Bengals.

"I'm going to get some game time. I just don't when I'm going to be in there," McFadden said. "I'm ready to contribute."

Ricardo Colclough (shoulder/questionable) returned to practice for the first time since he was injured in the Oct. 10 game in San Diego, but he might not dress for the Bengals.

Smith hurting

The defensive player who might be the biggest game-time decision is defensive end Aaron Smith (back spasms), who practiced very little again yesterday and was downgraded to questionable just a day after he was upgraded to probable.

Smith would be replaced by backup defensive end Brett Keisel.

Injured players healing

Wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring), who did not play against the Jaguars, practiced for the second day in a row and will start against the Bengals. He was upgraded from questionable to probable.

Wide receiver Antwaan Randle (foot) returned to practice and will start. Tight end Jerame Tuman, who missed practice Thursday with the flu, also returned to practice.

Linebacker Clark Haggans (groin), who was upgraded from out to doubtful on the injury report, practiced with the scout-team defense. More than likely, though, Haggans won't return until the Oct. 31 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

"I think [coach Bill Cowher] wanted to see if I could go back-to-back-to-back plays without any problems," said Haggans, who was injured in the Sept. 25 game against New England and had groin surgery Oct. 3. "It felt pretty good out there."

No fines for Polamalu, Smith

Smith and safety Troy Polamalu each said they were not fined by the NFL for roughing-the-passer penalties called against them on Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich.

Polamalu was penalized 15 yards when he hit Leftwich after he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones in the third quarter. Smith was penalized 15 yards on a play when his raised arms appeared to hit Leftwich on the shoulder pads, knocking him to the ground, in the fourth quarter.

At the time, Smith said Leftwich did "a good acting job."

"I didn't even intend to hit him," Smith said.

"Maybe they're being nice to us after all the penalties we've had called against us," Polamalu said.

Trouble at home

Backup quarterback Tommy Maddox declined through a team spokesman to comment further about irate fan behavior that came after the overtime defeat to Jacksonville.

Maddox's wife, Jennifer, said in a television interview on WPXI Thursday night that no trash had to be removed from their yard at home and their kids are riding the school bus, as always.

Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca, one of Maddox's closest friends on the team, said he once had a pile of dog feces left on his doorstep after a Steelers loss. He later discovered it was put there by a neighbor, who has since moved.

"Would you want someone doing that in your life?" Faneca said. "If they don't like how the highway is repaired, are they going to harass them? You go to that bound, that's not right. You're not going to want it to happen to you, but sometimes people don't think that way. Sports brings out the fire in you."

Maddox, whose throwing shoulder was sprained against the Jaguars, did not practice all week and likely won't be activated against the Bengals. Charlie Batch will be the No. 2 quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger.

Worries for Starks

Bengals defensive end Justin Smith was moved to the left side this season because new defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan wanted to get second-year defensive end Robert Geathers on the field. Smith, who has leads the Bengals with two sacks, will go against right tackle Max Starks, who has been victimized for three sacks in the past two games.

Smith, a former No. 1 pick, is not a speed-rusher, but Starks said it's more difficult trying to pass-protect against guys such as Smith because they have more moves.

"The thing about speed guys, they're not going to give you as many moves," Starks said. "Just push them upfield and knock them down. That's pretty much it. But with bigger, quicker defensive ends, you're constantly worried about their hands, head fakes, swim moves, rip moves. There's a lot more technique you have to worry about."