Winless on the road and in serious danger of falling out of playoff contention, the last-place Baltimore Ravens will likely be without linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. Reed missed Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Chicago Bears with a high ankle sprain, and Lewis left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. Reed was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season, and Lewis won the award in 2003. Ravens coach Brian Billick said Monday it would be "optimistic" to believe that either player would be available in Pittsburgh for a game Baltimore (2-4) desperately needs to win in order to remain a factor in the AFC North.

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward was upgraded Friday to probable for Sunday's AFC North game at Cincinnati after missing a game for the first time in his NFL career with a hamstring injury last weekend. Ward was listed as questionable when the practice week began, but took part in drills Thursday and Friday after missing practice last week. He sat out a 23-17 overtime loss Sunday to Jacksonville, the first time he has missed a game since being drafted in 1998.

Wide receiver Hines Ward took part in some of the Steelers' drills, but remains questionable for Sunday's game at Cincinnati. "He didn't do everything, but he did a lot of things," coach Bill Cowher said. Ward was held out of Sunday's 23-16 overtime loss to Jacksonville, the first game he's missed in his eight-year career. The Steelers (3-2) normally don't decide whether a player can play or not until after Friday's practice. Ward did not practice last Friday.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be back at the helm this Sunday when the Steelers take on the first place Bengals. Big Ben sat out last Sunday?s loss with a knee injury. "He's a big part of our football team," rookie tight end Heath Miller said. "I know he was frustrated he wasn't able to play this weekend, but I'm sure he'll be back and he'll be a big help for us this weekend."

Injuries will keep Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward and Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor out of the Jaguars-Steelers game. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who hyperextended his left knee Oct. 10 in a victory at San Diego, can be used only as an emergency No. 3 quarterback. Tommy Maddox is scheduled to make his first NFL start since the regular season finale at Buffalo on Jan. 2. Ward, who aggravated his hamstring, will miss his first game in 116 consecutive regular-season games. Antwaan Randle El and Cedrick Wilson are scheduled to start.

The Pittsburgh Steelers upgraded backup quarterback Tommy Maddox from questionable to probable after Thursday's practice. By Sunday afternoon, the nine-year veteran, who has recovered remarkably quickly from a calf injury, could be upgraded to starter. With starter Ben Roethlisberger still slowed by a knee injury suffered late in the Monday night victory at San Diego, and unable to practice for a second straight day, the Steelers are strongly leaning toward starting Maddox against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Heinz Field, sources confirmed to ESPN.com.

Third string backup quarterback Charlie Batch has been taking most of the snaps in the Steelers practice as Ben Roethlisberger, who did not practice is doubtful with a hyperextended knee and backup Tommy Maddox, who did practice, is only five days removed from a calf injury. "I'm ready. I'm ready to start," said Batch, who has thrown only eight passes in four Steelers seasons, all in 2003. "I came in today preparing that way. I'm feeling comfortable, getting back into the groove of things ... and, unless that changes, I'm the guy preparing to play."

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise sustained during a game-winning field goal drive at the end of a 24-22 victory at San Diego on Monday night, but hasn't been ruled out of Sunday's game against Jacksonville. The injury isn't as severe as it initially appeared to be -- immediately after the game, coach Bill Cowher said "it looked bad." "It's a deep sigh of relief," Cowher said Tuesday. Roethlisberger, 16-1 as an NFL regular-season starter, was injured with 1:05 remaining when Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo's helmet collided with his left knee as Roethlisberger was completing a 9-yard pass to Antwaan Randle El.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was knocked out of the team's game at San Diego after he was hit in the left knee by a defensive lineman's helmet. With the Chargers leading 22-21, Roethlisberger had completed a 9-yard pass to Antwaan Randle El when he was hit by Chargers rookie Luis Castillo with 1:05 left. He was replaced by Charlie Batch, who has played only a handful of downs the last three years.