BEREA, Ohio -- Growing up in Pittsburgh, Bruce Gradkowski was the legend.

His senior season at Seton-LaSalle High School, Gradkowski's 2,978 passing yards set the record in his 87-year-old conference and surpassed the high school totals of eventual NFL Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Dan Marino and George Blanda.

Sunday at Heinz Field, Gradkowski will try to recapture some of that hometown magic. He will start in the season finale against the Steelers (11-4).

The Browns put quarterback Ken Dorsey on injured reserve with a rib injury and a mild concussion and signed Richard Bartel from the practice squad.

Another quarterback option might have been eliminated in practice Wednesday when special-teams ace Joshua Cribbs injured his right ankle while running a pass pattern and walked off the field with a trainer. He was able to return later.

Coach Romeo Crennel had hoped Cribbs, the former Kent State quarterback, would get more snaps under center in his "Flash" package. Cribbs was already playing with a sore back.

The situation looks grim since the Browns haven't scored an offensive touchdown in five games, all losses, and they're facing the league's top-ranked defense. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a conference call Wednesday that "everybody's going to play."

That could change by game time, especially since the Steelers have clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs and secured the No. 2 seed behind the Tennessee Titans.

The situation seems ripe for a replay of the visiting Steelers' 41-0 Christmas Eve massacre of the Browns in 2005, but Gradkowski was the most upbeat player in the locker room Wednesday. He almost sounded like he has a death wish.

"I grew up in Pittsburgh, so I know about the rivalry," Gradkowski said. "I always said I'd love to play against the Steelers, and it's even more awesome playing against them in a Browns uniform. I'm looking forward to it, and will be ready to go if Ken can't. This would be a nice Christmas gift."

Crennel said the Browns will have to maximize the strengths of Gradkowski, who is 6 feet 1 and 220 pounds.

"He's got some limitations height-wise and also arm strength," Crennel said. "But he's a pretty heady quarterback, he's pretty versed in the West Coast system. He's always been somewhat of a pocket passer, hasn't moved around that much. I think he's really excited to be able to start again in the NFL and see what he can do."