Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Santonio Holmes will miss practice today as he attends a court hearing in Columbus, Ohio. Click photo for larger image. Related article Blog 'N' Gold

Santonio Holmes, the Steelers' No. 1 pick, will miss practice today because he will be in Columbus, Ohio, for a jury-trial hearing on charges of domestic violence and abuse against the mother of his third child.

Holmes will attend a 10 a.m. hearing before Judge Michael Brandt in Franklin County Municipal Court. Regardless of developments, he is expected to return for the final preseason game tomorrow night against the Carolina Panthers at Heinz Field.

"I can't imagine that being a problem," said Sam Shamansky, Holmes' Columbus-based attorney.

Holmes, who played at Ohio State, was arrested June 19 and charged with domestic violence and abuse -- first-degree misdemeanors -- against Lashae Boone of Columbus, the mother of his third child.

"We're hoping the prosecutor drops the charges and we'll go from there," Shamansky said.

Injury updates

Coach Bill Cowher said offensive right tackle Max Starks, whose left knee was injured in Philadelphia, will not play against the Panthers. Starks, though, "should be fine" and is expected to be ready for the regular season.

Cowher said he has not decided if rookie Willie Colon or Trai Essex, a third-round choice last year who is the backup left tackle, will start at right tackle.

Three other players will not play against the Panthers -- wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring), tight end Jerame Tuman (hamstring) and cornerback Anthony Madison (hamstring). Ward and Tuman have not played in any preseason games.

Tight end switch

The Steelers released rookie tight end Isaac Smolko, a free agent from Penn State, and signed third-year tight end Tim Euhus, a former fourth-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills in 2004.

The move is a sign the coaches are not convinced that rookie Charles Davis, a fifth-round draft choice, or rookie free agent Jon Dekker can make the 53-man roster as the third tight end.

Euhus was acquired in a trade by the New Orleans Saints June 6, then released Monday. He appeared in 11 games, making three starts, for the Bills in 2005.

Cowher said decisions on which players make the 53-man roster will be predicated on injuries, particularly at tight end.

"Yeah, it's a concern with him [Tuman] and Hines," Cowher said. "Both of those guys haven't been on the field for an extended period of time. To sit there and say you feel good about it, that's not true. It will probably have some kind of effect on the final makeup."

Haynes downplays RB woes

The top three backs -- Willie Parker, Duce Staley and Verron Haynes -- have carried a combined 40 times for 101 yards in three preseason games, an average of 2.5 yards per attempt, prompting Cowher to issue some concern about the running game.

But Haynes, the third-down back, said there is nothing to worry about.

"Not really, because we're not game-planning," Haynes said. "We can do better, and that's speaking for everybody. I don't have any concern about it. Once you start game-planning, that's our identity. I don't think we're going to lose sight of it at all."

Palmer surprises Batch

Backup quarterback Charlie Batch, who was coming off microfracture knee surgery in training camp last year, was surprised to see Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer return to the playing field Monday night, seven months after his left knee was injured in a playoff game against the Steelers.

Palmer threw three touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers in his first appearance since he had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament and a dislocated kneecap.

"It's amazing to see something happen in January and, eight months later, be able to play," Batch said.

Batch, 31, had knee surgery the second week of training camp in 2004 and was ready to take part in camp last year, even though he had no guarantee his knee had healed. He had a year before he tested his knee.

Palmer, though, has had to accelerate his return -- he had an aggressive rehabilitation in the offseason -- to get ready for the regular season.

"I know he doesn't like the Steelers, but I'm glad he's back," Ben Roethlisberger said.

Cowher said he watched very little of Palmer's performance against Green Bay on national television.

"I really wanted to watch Andre Agassi play," Cowher said. "He looked pretty good."