Wednesday, September 17, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Twenty-one days after a 9 mm bullet ripped through his buttocks and lodged in his thigh, Joey Porter might resume playing outside linebacker for the Steelers.

Porter will practice in pads today with the rest of his teammates for the first time since he was wounded Aug. 31 outside a Denver bar.

Coach Bill Cowher upgraded Porter's status for the game Sunday in Cincinnati to questionable and said that probably will improve later in the week. Porter ran and lifted weights last week and was disappointed when Cowher ruled him out of the game in Kansas City.

"I said until I see him practice, he is questionable," Cowher said.

"He is not real happy that he is questionable. In his mind, it is not even a question."

Porter, an All-Pro last season and the team's co-MVP with Hines Ward, is out of danger from getting an infection because his wound has healed. Cowher's remaining concern is his conditioning.

"He has had some tests done, and everything looks good at this point," Cowher said.

"I think it is watching him work, watching him hit, watching him run and accelerate. Watching him move and not think about it. He has to react. I am sure he will be upgraded at some point."

Cowher said Porter probably will start if he plays, replacing Clark Haggans at right outside linebacker. It's possible he would not play in all of the Steelers' defenses as he did before the shooting.

"We will see where he is by the end of the week," Cowher said.

"He would probably start, but how much he plays depends on the conditioning standpoint. He ran pretty good last week. He pushed himself pretty hard, but that is not football shape and he has been out for a couple weeks now. I think a lot will have to do with how he feels."

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