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Wednesday, August 21, 2002

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Kordell Stewart's head still hurt yesterday, which got him thinking for the first time about what drove quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Steve Young out of football.

"When I got this one I did," Stewart said yesterday, two days after what was described as a mild concussion knocked him out of the game against Washington in the first quarter Sunday night. "I had an opportunity to think about it."

It was his second concussion in five years. He practiced yesterday, wearing one of the new helmets designed to provide more protection against head injuries.

Stewart's injury occurred when he was tackled along the sideline and his head bounced off the ground.

"It made me hate preseason even more," said Stewart, who will wait until later in the week before he, the trainers and Coach Bill Cowher decide whether he will play Saturday in Detroit. But he looked good in practice at St. Vincent College.

"I tried to keep my concentration and kept a little tunnel vision, and it was probably one of the best practices I had throwing the ball," he said. "I'm taking it slow. If I get to a point in practice where I feel like I need to stop, I will."

Stewart has never missed an NFL game because of injury, but he missed the second half of a game Oct. 12, 1997, against Indianapolis because of a concussion.

Aikman and Young retired from football after a series of concussions, and Stewart does not want to suffer a similar fate. Hines Ward sat next to him at lunch wearing a black hat. Stewart told him he knew the hat was black, but that he would not have been able to determine its color Sunday night.

"I still feel a little woozy," he said. "It's not to the point [where] I'm dizzy, but I still have a headache and I'm not as clear as I know it can be."

Injury report

Practice yesterday in Latrobe looked much like the Steelers' game Sunday night at Washington.

"Everybody started dropping like flies," Ward said.

Ward and Plaxico Burress were among a group of Steelers who left practice early with minor injuries. Ward landed on his left shoulder and has an AC joint injury. Burress slipped while catching a low pass and has a hyperextended left knee. Rookie guard Kendall Simmons, who made his first start Sunday, slipped and has a pulled right hamstring. Rookie cornerback LaVar Glover has a pulled stomach muscle. Cornerback Chad Scott did not even make it to practice. He stayed in his dorm room with the flu.

"There are some nagging injuries we have," Cowher said. "That's the time of camp right now. You have to fight through that, and that's where we are."

Ward and Burress will try to practice today. Simmons might miss a day or two. Glover could be out longer.

"Plax and I, we both want to be in there," Ward said. "That helps us get the timing down with Kordell."

Injury updates

The Steelers received better news across the board from their previously injured players.

Besides Stewart, quarterback Charlie Batch (cut chin), tackle Wayne Gandy (sprained ankle), halfback Amos Zereoue (ankle) and tight end Jerame Tuman (stomach muscle) all returned to practice. Cornerback Deshea Townsend (shoulder) will return to practice today.

"It's preseason," Gandy said. "Just like the games, injuries don't count. Just go out, play hard and get ready for Sept. 9."

Wrapping up

The Steelers will have their final dual practice sessions of training camp today, one in the morning that is not open to the public and one that starts at 3 p.m. that is. They have one more practice open to the public at 3 p.m. tomorrow and then break camp Friday.