The Steelers on Tuesday placed OT Marvel Smith on injured reserve and signed OT Jason Capizzi to replace him. Smith missed the past 10 games with a back injury. Capizzi has been on a handful of practice squads, including the Steelers last season before they put him on their 53-man roster for their one playoff game.
PLAYER NOTES
--K Jeff Reed needs six points to pass Roy Gerela into second place on the team's career scoring list. Reed has 726 points.
--WR Hines Ward needs six receptions for 800 in his career, the only Steelers receiver who will have reached that mark.
--OT Marvel Smith, an unrestricted free agent after the season, could re-sign with the team before free agency begins. His back injury has hurt his big-money chances on the open market but the Steelers believe he can still overcome it.
--LB James Harrison was voted by his teammates' as the Steelers' MVP for the second straight year. Harrison set a team record with 16 sacks.
--RB Willie Parker has only three receptions, down from 23 last season and tied for his rookie low in 2004. A Parker reception in Tennessee Sunday was changed Wednesday to a run.
GAME PLAN: The Steelers would like to get their running game going, and will try to do so against the Browns. It's also possible they will throw Hines Ward some early passes so he can get 27 and his 1,000 yards. Defensively, they won't blitz much, staying in a 3-4 or nickel defense the whole way.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Steelers C Justin Hartwig vs. Browns Pro Bowl NT Shaun Rogers. If the Steelers want to get their ground game going, this is where it will start.
The much-improved Steelers kickoff coverage unit vs. Browns return man Joshua Cribbs, who had two long kickoff returns against them last season, one for a TD.
Steelers No. 2 rush defense vs. Browns RB Jamal Lewis, who needs 92 yards to hit 1,000.
INJURY IMPACT: FS Ryan Clark will not play because of a dislocated right shoulder. Tyrone Carter will start in his place, but Anthony Smith also will play. With Marvel Smith on IR, it's the only known injury that will keep anyone out. QB Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) and LB James Harrison (hip pointer) are expected to start.
