Tyrone Carter was overdressed for practice yesterday. He had good reason. It was his first and only work of the week with the starting defensive unit, thus he felt the need to don game pants and shoulder pads while the rest of the Steelers were in shorts and shells.

"I'm good. I'm good," he pronounced afterward, meaning the backup to injured Troy Polamalu appears hale enough to start tomorrow against Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium.

Yet, the left thigh he bruised against Chicago last week remains a concern.

"I got to put a little thigh pad on the left [leg]," said Carter, a veteran of 10 seasons and 42 starts. "Still trying to protect myself. It isn't sore anymore. But just to be cautious, so I can't get hit again in that same spot.

"With the rest and the treatment I've been doing, each day it was getting better, the swelling was going down. With that many days, I knew I'd be ready for Sunday."

Practice ended with 52 hours left before kickoff, more time for Carter to heal. If something happens to cause him to miss the start, or the game, Woodland Hills High's Ryan Mundy is next in line at strong safety.

It isn't exactly a new-look Cincinnati defense, but many members of that unit will look new to the Steelers.

Four Bengals defenders slated to start tomorrow didn't face the Steelers in either of their meetings last season: free-agent acquisitions Tank Johnson at right defensive tackle and strong safety Roy Williams, plus rookie strongside linebacker Rey Maualuga and journeyman free safety Chris Crocker, who moved into the starting lineup late in 2008. Two others started in only one Steelers game in '08: right defensive end Antwan Odom and weakside linebacker Keith Rivers, whose season was famously ended by a Hines Ward block against which the NFL later created a rule.

"A lot of our coaches pointed out, both times we played them last year, they were missing two or three key guys," tight end Heath Miller said. "So in that respect, when we play them this week, they'll be 100 percent healthy."

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians added: "They've got 11 guys they didn't have last year when we played them either time. They're going to be a heck of a challenge."

Odom, the NFL sack leader with seven and the fastest to register that many in the 28 years of such stat-keeping, missed practice yesterday because of what Bengals officials listed as a non-injury related issue. He is expected to start tomorrow.

The Bengals also listed starting left guard Nate Livings (knee), limited in practice all week, as questionable and three more regulars as probable: running back Cedric Benson (ankle), receiver Chris Henry (quadriceps) and cornerback Jonathan Joseph (ankle). Out are reserve cornerback David Jones (foot) and offensive tackle Andre Smith (foot).

For the Steelers, 2008 Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison was excused from practice yesterday and is listed as probable for tomorrow despite an illness, which wasn't considered serious. Polamalu remains out while Carter, receiver Limas Sweed (foot) plus starting linebacker Lawrence Timmons (ankle) remain probable.

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