The Steelers have been without Troy Polamalu since the opener, but that may change this week as the team gets ready to play the 1-3 Detroit Lions at Ford Field Sunday. Polamalu is expected to practice on a limited basis Wednesday for the first time since tearing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee vs the Titans on September 10th.

Polamalu will wear a brace on the knee. He must show the Steelers’ medical staff that he can stop and start and change directions before he plays again, but he has not been ruled out of Sunday’s game at Detroit.

“Troy’s been doing well and progressing well,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. “Last week, he ran some in a straight line to pretty solid reviews. We’ll take another step to see where he is. … We’ll get him back out there on the practice field and see how he responds to that.”