Ryan Clark practiced today with his teammates, but it remains unclear whether he will play for the Steelers in Denver next Monday night.

Coach Mike Tomlin said that determination will be made later in the week. He and Clark, his starting free safety, met with doctors last Thursday and "he's received medical clearance to play in this football game," Tomlin said.

"So now, the decision lies with he and myself. We're going to weigh all ouroptions and evaluate this thing as we proceed throughout the week."

Clark has sickle cell trait and his blood reacted so poorly in the exertion of playing in the thin Denver air with the Steelers in 2007 that he became almost deathly ill after the game. He wound up having his spleen and gall bladder removed, lost 30 pounds and missed the second half of the 2007 season.

"We understand the elements of what he's dealing with and at some point this week he and I are going to sit down and decide what actions we're going to take," Tomlin said.

Wide receiver Santonio Holmes also has sickle cell but he said he will play, and that he's never given it a second thought. He played in Denver in 2007 without any ill effects. Tomlin said Clark has another unnamed medical condtion besides his sickle cell that lead doctors to believe his case is "unique" and that many other players with sickle cell trait have played in Denver without any negative reaction.

On other injury fronts, linebacker Lawrence Timmons (ankle) and defensive end Travis Kirschke (calf) did not practice. Each left the game Oct. 25 vs. Minnesota with their injuries. Tomlin said he is more optimistic about Timmons' injury than Kirschke's.

Also, Willie Parker was sent him this morning with an illness.

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