The anticipated return of running back Willie Parker to the lineup will take place again this week with, the Steelers hope, better results.

Parker went through a workout while coach Mike Tomlin watched yesterday.

"We'll see how he feels in the morning and see if he's capable of practicing tomorrow after today's workout," Tomlin said.

Parker has not played since he sprained a ligament in his left knee in the season's third game, in Philadelphia. He ran for more than 100 yards in each of his first two games.

He resumed practice two weeks ago but ran into physical trouble on the practice field and was scratched from the Oct. 19 game against Cincinnati. Again, he practiced last Wednesday, but the knee did not respond well and he was inactive Sunday against the New York Giants.

Offensive tackle Marvel Smith continues to try to return from back spasms that caused him to miss the past two games. Tomlin called him "day to day" and said the team will see where he is today or tomorrow.

Nose tackle Casey Hampton developed a new injury after he missed two games with a groin problem. Now it's turf toe that might cause him to miss practice today but likely won't keep him out of Monday's game at Washington, Tomlin said.

Special teams player Keyaron Fox still is recuperating from a hamstring injury.

Tomlin mentioned that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a sore shoulder after being sacked five times and hit 10 other times by the Giants.

"All in all, the list is gaining some clarity," Tomlin said of his injured players. "We'll continue to make adjustments to be able to put a winning caliber unit out there on the field and that's what we intend to do."

The Steelers have a new long snapper. His name is Jared Retkofsky, who signed with them as an undrafted rookie from Texas Christian University this year but was released before training camp.

Greg Warren was placed on injured reserve after surgery to repair a torn ACL in his knee that was injured Sunday.

The Steelers also signed punter Ricky Schmitt to their practice squad. Veteran punter Mitch Berger has a hamstring injury. Tomlin said Berger should be OK to punt Monday.

Safety Ryan Clark, who returned to start at free safety this year after missing more than half of last season, is the winner of the Ed Block Courage Award for the Steelers.

The NFL names a winner from each team and an overall winner in March. Clark, who has sickle cell trait, had his spleen removed last year when his blood had a reaction in the high altitude in Denver.

Franco Harris, already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will make it as an "inductee of distinction" Saturday at the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Induction at the Holiday Inn Meadowlands in Washington, Pa. He will be joined by former Pitt and NFL kicker Fred Cox, former Baltimore Colts player Jim Mutscheller of Beaver Falls and Notre Dame, and former Cy Young Award winning pitcher Pete Vuckovich of Johnstown and Clarion University.