TAMPA, Fla. — Hines Ward isn’t cutting or turning yet on an injury that sometimes takes weeks and weeks to heal. He’s not running pass patterns or sprinting with much speed.
Not playing in the Super Bowl? Ward can’t imagine it, and neither can any of his Steelers teammates.
The one question hanging over the AFC champion Steelers as their practice week begins is whether the wide receiver who owns most of the franchise’s career pass-catching records will play Sunday with a sprained right knee.
To Ward, there’s no question.
“I don’t have a brace on. I’m walking around fine,” Ward said Monday. “I’m not going to be 100 percent. I’m not going to trick anybody. But I think I’m going to be able to go out there and perform like I’m used to.”
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was startled anyone doubted Ward’s toughness.
“People ask me that question and I want to smack them,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s Hines Ward. He’s going to be out here. It’s the Super Bowl.”
