PITTSBURGH -- At his weekly news conference Steelers coach Mike Tomlin announced that safety Ryan Clark has medical clearance to play in the upcoming game against the Denver Broncos.
But that doesn't mean he will.
Clark became seriously ill after the Steelers' last game in Denver on Oct. 21, 2007, and had to sit out the rest of the season. His spleen and gall bladder were removed, and he lost more than 30 pounds before finally regaining strength.
Doctors told Clark that his sickle cell trait was aggravated by Denver's high altitude and caused a serious blood disorder the last time he played there in 2007.
During Tuesday's news conference, Tomlin said that a team of doctors had cleared Clark to play in Denver but that the team still hadn't made a decision.
Tomlin said that Clark hasn't decided either whether or not to play.
Tomlin told reporters the Steelers want to "make this decision once," so they expect to wait until later in the week to give the final word.
Clark is still practicing with the team this week.
"What we don't want to do is come to a decision too early in the week and have second thoughts later in the week. Regardless of whether or not Ryan participates in this football, the standard will be the same for not only our secondary, but our football team," said Tomlin.
As far as how the altitude may affect the rest of the Steelers' game, Tomlin said he refuses "to acknowledge that this is going to be a factor in the outcome of the game."
Clark's teammate, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, said he's planning to play in the Denver game. Like Clark, Holmes also has sickle cell trait, but he does not have the additional medical condition that Clark also has.
Holmes
auctioned a pair of Super Bowl XLIII gloves earlier this year to raise money for
Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.
Injury Update
Defensive end Travis Kirschke (calf strain) is questionable for Monday's game.
Kirschke was injured in a game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 25.
He had been part of a three-man rotation with rookie Ziggy Hood and Nick Eason to fill the void created by Aaron Smith's season-ending injury.
Linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who suffered an ankle sprain in the Vikings game, is also questionable for Monday.
Keyaron Fox filled in for Timmons and returned a Brett Favre interception 82 yards for a touchdown to secure a 27-17 win for the Steelers.
Tomlin said rookie offensive lineman Ramon Foster also has some "back discomfort" that may limit him early in the week.
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