PITTSBURGH -- Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that strong safety Troy Polamalu and cornerback Ike Taylor are expected to play Sunday against the visiting New Orleans Saints barring any setbacks.
Both players were full participants in practice Monday. Their anticipated return couldn't come at a better time for the Steelers because the Saints average 309 passing yards per game, third-most in the NFL.
Polamalu missed the previous two games because of a sprained knee. Taylor has been out since breaking his forearm in a Sept. 21 win at Carolina. Taylor had been practicing on a limited basis before receiving medical clearance Monday to return in full.
"We anticipate having him in some form or fashion [against the Saints]," Tomlin said of Taylor at his weekly news conference on Tuesday.
Less certain is the status of rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier. The first-round draft pick has missed the past two games because of a high ankle sprain after missing four games earlier in the season because of a sprained knee. Shazier practiced on a limited basis Monday, and Tomlin said it is too early to tell whether he will play Sunday at Heinz Field.
"He's a young guy, he's got to prove to us that he can execute in great detail," Tomlin said. "We'll watch not only his level of participation but his quality of execution."
Another defensive starter who has been out, nose tackle Steve McLendon, is questionable for the Saints game because of a nagging shoulder injury that already has cost him three games. Cornerback Cortez Allen is also questionable after having surgery last week on a broken thumb. Safety Shamarko Thomas, who has missed five games because of separate hamstring injuries, is expected to play against the Saints.
Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones won't play Sunday, but the second-year player is getting closer to returning from a dislocated wrist he sustained in late September. The Steelers activated Jones from the injured reserve/designated to return list Monday. They have three weeks to play him in a game, or Jones will go on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
"It could come soon. It could come at the end of the three weeks," Tomlin said of adding Jones to the 53-man roster. "Really more than anything it's about him getting acclimated to the cast that he's playing in and us getting a level of comfort with his overall execution with it."