Wide receiver Hines Ward, who has missed only three games during his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be sidelined for Sunday's contest against the Arizona Cardinals with a sprained right knee. The 10th-year veteran sustained the injury, originally diagnosed as a bruised knee, in the third quarter of last week's victory over the San Francisco 49ers. A subsequent MRI exam revealed no structural damage, but Ward was unable to practice all week. Cedrick Wilson and Nate Washington are expected to split time at Ward's spot in Sunday's game. Washington has three receptions for 60 yards this season. Wilson, a onetime starter, has one catch for 12 yards.

Wide receiver Hines Ward is "doubtful" for Sunday's game against Arizona because of a sprained right knee, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. Ward's knee was injured in the third quarter against the 49ers when it was hit by a helmet. Tomlin said he won't rule Ward out of the game against the Cardinals. Ward has missed only three games in his 10-year career.

Wide receiver Hines Ward was scheduled to have an MRI on his knee last night after taking a blow from a helmet in the second half of a 37-16 victory against the San Francisco 49ers yesterday at Heinz Field. Ward was hit hard twice on two incomplete passes near the goal line early in the third quarter. He left the game, returned briefly, then left for good. He dressed and had been escorted out of the Steelers' locker room before the game ended. "Right now, it appears to be a bone bruise," coach Mike Tomlin said. "I'll leave it at that. Of course, there will be further tests and we'll have more information on that area later on." Ward caught one pass for 2 yards to extend his team record of catching a pass in his 136th consecutive game.

A business associate of Hines Ward has accused the Steelers receiver and another associate, who together own a South Side bar, of removing money from the business and insurance fraud. Ward owns the Locker Room Bar & Grille, which opened in December 2005 on East Carson Street, along with Kimberly Pitts and Nicholas Lettieri. Court documents reveal an ugly legal battle over the bar's bank accounts, accounting books and insurance claims between the owners. Specifically, Lettieri leveled accusations in court documents that Pitts, her husband, Korry Pitts, and Ward failed to deposit cash receipts into the company accounts and have diverted the funds to their own personal bank accounts. Lettieri states that despite profits of more than $1 million and insurance money of $500,000, the company's bank accounts totaled less than $19,000 as of last week.

The Steelers haven't changed a bit under Mike Tomlin. In their first game in 15 years without iconic coach Bill Cowher stalking the sideline, the Steelers looked the same while smashing and slapping around the Browns -- again. Ben Roethlisberger threw a career-high four touchdown passes and Pittsburgh rolled to a 34-7 win in Tomlin's NFL coaching debut and embarrassed the Browns, who had a disastrous season opener at home.

Charlie Frye will start at quarterback for Cleveland's season opener Sunday against the Steelers. Frye, who started 13 games last year, entered training camp slightly behind Derek Anderson in the quarterback competition. But he outperformed Anderson during preseason games and directed one touchdown drive against the Broncos. Anderson produced no touchdowns when he led the offense during preseason games.

The Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday signed right guard Lawrence Timmons to a five-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Steelers traded a conditional pick in next year's NFL draft to the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday for return specialist Allen Rossum. Rossum, a 10-year veteran who can also play cornerback, figures to compete with Willie Reid for kickoff and punt return duties. He holds Falcons records for career kickoff returns (5,489 yards) and punt returns (1,723). Rossum, who has six returns for touchdowns during his career, had a 51-yard kickoff return in the Falcons' 41-38 win over the Steelers last season.