More Steelers left their injury beds, only to be replaced by others as their red badge of courage season continues.

Halfback Willie Parker will join the walking wounded when he's outfitted with a shoulder harness to protect a torn labrum. Coach Mike Tomlin expects him to rejoin his teammates in practice today and start Sunday against San Diego.

Linebacker LaMarr Woodley also will return in all likelihood after missing one game with a calf injury.

"At the latest, we expect him to be on the practice field for us Thursday and get him toward playing this weekend," Tomlin said.

Tight end Heath Miller will miss a second game in a season for the first time in his career with a high ankle sprain, and Deshea Townsend also is out with a severely injured hamstring sustained in the loss Sunday to Indianapolis. Townsend's injury, combined with Bryant McFadden's absence with a broken forearm, prompted the Steelers to call for help yesterday in the form of veteran cornerback Fernando Bryant, a former first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Bryant, 31, was released this year by the New England Patriots. He also played for Detroit after spending time with the Jaguars, who drafted him in 1999. He will compete with Anthony Madison this week to serve as the nickel corner while William Gay moves up to start for Townsend.

"That's to be determined," Tomlin said. "That's why it was important to get him signed and get him in here and start this process that we're taking him through to be ready to play. We'll make that decision later in the week.

"He's a sharp guy. He's a veteran player. He'll spend some time with our staff big-time today and tomorrow and start the practice process and, hopefully, he'll be able to help us this weekend."

The Steelers released rookie linebacker Donovan Woods to make room for Bryant and will sign him to their practice squad today if he clears waivers. They also added rookie safety Ryan Mundy (from Woodland Hills High) to their practice squad and released safety Grant Mason.

There's no suggestion the Steelers have another "Shouldergate" on their hands 30 years after the original cost them a third-round draft choice for wearing shoulder pads in a minicamp.

But they have had the unusual circumstances of losing four players to shoulder injuries this season. It began in the opener when Houston's Mario Williams slightly separated quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's right shoulder when he wrenched the ball out of his hands. Roethlisberger has missed no starts, but he missed half the seventh game of the season in Washington when it was reinjured.

Rookie halfback Rashard Mendenhall was lost for the season with a rare broken shoulder, safety Ryan Clark missed a game with a separated shoulder and Parker has a similar injury to Clark's.

Tomlin said he considers work in the weight room to strengthen shoulders "very important."

"That's why we have a strength coach and weight program and why we have an in-season weight program, not only for [Parker], but for everybody's shoulders in terms of the ability to sustain throughout the season. Lifting and maintaining strength is important."

Tackle Marvel Smith, who missed the past four games with back issues, will try to practice this week. Even if he does, he might not start.

"He's got to show us quite a bit, he's missed quite a bit of time," Tomlin said. "Not only in terms of health, but technically he's got to be up to speed. He's got to knock the rust off quickly if he's going to play for us this weekend."

Max Starks has replaced him and has "done a solid job, all in all," Tomlin said.

He did not, however, give a ringing endorsement to the offensive line as a whole.

"Collectively, as a group, we're not doing what we need to do, so nobody is performing great."