Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Steelers linebacker James Farrior is not expected to play against the Browns tomorrow. Click photo for larger image.

The Steelers will pass the buck tomorrow, and it will go from James Farrior to Clint Kriewaldt.

Farrior, a Pro Bowl linebacker and the team's leading tackler, did not practice for the third day in a row and is not expected to play against the Cleveland Browns (3-5) tomorrow night in a nationally televised game at Heinz Field.

He will be replaced by Kriewaldt, who played most of the second half in Green Bay when Farrior's medial collateral ligament was sprained.

Initially, it was thought Farrior would miss at least two weeks, but he will probably return Nov. 20 for the game in Baltimore.

Farrior plays the "buck" position -- the name for the inside linebacker position that lines up to the strong side, or tight end side, in the 3-4 defense.

The buck linebacker makes all the calls for the linemen and linebackers and is usually backed on the same side by the strong safety. That gives him more freedom to make tackles.

"Clint is one of the smartest players on the defense -- that's why he plays the buck," Farrior said. "We got to know a lot of things out there and I'm sure he's going to do well with the calls. He's been in the system for a while. Everyone on the defense believes in him and has confidence in him, and that's the biggest thing."

The other inside position, manned by Larry Foote, is known as "the mack." The mack linebacker has less freedom to make tackles because he does not have safety support. He is mostly responsible for backside and weakside support.

"That's why he makes more tackles than me," Foote said of Farrior.

Kriewaldt is called "Buddy Lee" by his teammates -- a reference to the diminutive but indestructible character in the Lee jeans commercial. The other day nose tackle Chris Hoke, who sits next to Kriewaldt in the locker room, put a cardboard cutout of the character in his locker.

"He looks kind of like him so we gave him that nickname," Farrior said. "He doesn't mind."

Parker practices

Willie Parker, the sixth-leading rusher in the AFC, practiced sparingly last night for the first time this week, but probably won't play against the Browns.

"I wanted to test it and it felt good," Parker said. "I'm still hoping to play, but it won't be bad for me to not play if I'm not ready."

Parker's ankle was sprained in Green Bay and he remains questionable on the injury report. He will likely be replaced by Jerome Bettis, who also practiced for the first time this week after sitting out the 20-10 victory against the Packers.

Linebacker Joey Porter (knee/probable) also returned to practice and will play against the Browns.

Tight end Jerame Tuman, whose ankle was sprained in practice Thursday, did not practice yesterday and remains questionable. If Tuman cannot play, the team will likely activate tight end Matt Kranchick from the practice squad.

Special problems

The Browns have had some problems on special teams. They rank last in the NFL in punt coverage (15.0 yds. per return) and have been victimized for several long kick returns. What's more, Dennis Northcutt had two punt returns for touchdowns wiped out by penalties.

Last week, kicker Phil Dawson, who had not missed in 15 attempts this season, had a 29-yard field goal blown sideways by a 45-mph wind.

But there has been a bright spot.

Rookie Joshua Cribbs, a converted quarterback from Kent State, has overcome a couple early fumbles to average 24.6 yards on kick returns. Cribbs had a 90-yard return for touchdown several weeks ago against the Detroit Lions.

Courson funeral

A memorial service for Steve Courson, who died Thursday in a tree-cutting accident, will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg.