Nose tackle Casey Hampton is scheduled to practice today, and he could return to the starting lineup Sunday when the Steelers host the New England Patriots [team stats]. The Steelers, meanwhile, are taking a wait-and-see approach with wide receiver Hines Ward, who is nursing a sprained ankle. Hampton has missed the past three games with a shoulder injury, but coach Mike Tomlin said the five-time Pro Bowler "has taken a step" forward. "We could get him back in the fold and, of course, that would be a nice shot in the arm for us up front defensively," Tomlin said. Ward hurt his right ankle in the second half of Sunday’s game at Arizona. Tomlin said the Steelers should have a better read on the 14th-year veteran after today. "I won’t be surprised by anything that Hines is capable of doing, particularly from a health standpoint," Tomlin said.
-- Nose tackle Chris Hoke (neck), outside linebacker Jason Worilds (quad) and cornerback Curtis Brown (back) are questionable for Sunday. The Steelers will be without outside linebacker James Harrison (eye) for a fourth consecutive game and guard/center Doug Legursky (toe) for the second week in a row.
-- Tomlin said he expects to see New England All-Pro linebacker Jerod Mayo on the field Sunday. Mayo has been out since Oct. 3 after sustaining a knee injury, but Tomlin said the inside linebacker practiced last week. "He’s a great player," Tomlin said.
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