Parker, Townsend & McFadden full participants in practice

[stlrz d]

[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-steelers-injuries&prov=ap&type=lgns"]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=a ... &type=lgns[/url]


Steelers’ Parker, Townsend, McFadden practice
14 hours, 53 minutes ago
PITTSBURGH (AP)—Steelers running back Willie Parker practiced for the second successive day Friday despite left knee inflammation and could play Sunday at New England.

Parker is listed as questionable; Steelers players who practice on the Friday before games usually play.

Parker, a three-time 1,000-yard rusher, recently missed five games in a six-game span with knee and shoulder injuries. He played in the last two games, but was pulled when the knee flared up after he gained 37 yards on 14 carries against Cincinnati on Nov. 20.

Also taking part in a full practice were cornerbacks Bryant McFadden (broken forearm) and Deshea Townsend (hamstring). McFadden missed the last five games and Townsend the last two.

The Steelers were hopeful that the two veteran cornerbacks would return against the Patriots (7-4) and Matt Cassel, who has thrown for 400-plus yards in his last two games. Pittsburgh (8-3) leads Baltimore (7-4) by one game in the AFC North.

As expected, defensive end Brett Keisel (knee) and left tackle Marvel Smith (back) were ruled out. Keisel is expected to miss two more games, and Smith hasn’t played in six games.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I was hoping that BMac would be good to go, but I didn't think that Deshea was this close to coming back. Cassel, Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Watson, et al, could be the toughest test our secondary will face this season, so it would be awesome to have Ike, BMac, Deshea, and Gay all back there (with Troy and Clark starting too, unlike last year against NE).