The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Tommy Maddox can't wait to throw that first pass. Can't wait to make that first completion. Can't wait for even that first hit.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback was mystified when he heard talk that the serious injury he suffered in Tennessee, which briefly left him paralyzed three weeks ago, was a warning sign he should quit playing.

"I know I'm going to get hit Sunday, but I know I'm going to get up and continue to play," said Maddox, whose start against Houston will be his first since the Titans game Nov. 17.

In that game, Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck hit Maddox, and the quarterback lost consciousness, causing his neck to twist awkwardly as he struck the turf. He didn't regain the feeling in his limbs for more than a half-hour.

But two days later, doctors said he responded normally to tests and no longer displayed any signs of his cerebral or spinal cord concussions.

"I look forward to Sunday and getting out there and playing," Maddox said. "I enjoy the games. I look forward to everything."

That attitude results partly from waiting so long to play; he didn't play a down in the NFL from 1995 until last season and waited nearly 10 years between starts. No other quarterback has waited so long, then played as well as he did after finally getting the chance.

The Steelers are 5-2-1 this season under Maddox, who has thrown 16 touchdown passes and completed 62.8 percent of his attempts.

Maddox was overwhelmed by the response to his injury. Thousands of e-mails and cards came to the Steelers' offices, and hundreds of phone calls came to his home.

Still, he knows everyone is asking the same thing: What will happen when he gets hit again?

"I want to get it over with ... if not for my sake, for everybody else's sake," he said. "I'm not too concerned about it. Hopefully they hit me early, we get it out of the way, and we go play."

DOLPHINS: Quarterback Ray Lucas and defensive end Rob Burnett, who both have sore shoulders, were held out of practice but are expected to be available Sunday against Chicago.

BRONCOS: Guard Steve Herndon was fined one game's pay, $17,647, by the NFL for an illegal block on San Diego defensive tackle Jamal Williams Sunday. Williams, who dislocated his left ankle on the play, had surgery Monday and is done for the season.

Denver kick returner Scottie Montgomery probably won't play against the New York Jets Sunday because of sprained neck ligaments.

Montgomery was injured in the fourth quarter of Denver's loss to San Diego Sunday when he twisted his neck while returning a kickoff. He experienced numbness in his neck and lay on the field for about 10 minutes before being carried off.

TITANS: Defensive end Jevon Kearse, who broke his foot in the season opener, is close to playing. He did not practice Thursday, but coach Jeff Fisher said Kearse was better after running outside the past two days.

"We're going to pick it up tomorrow and see how he is," Fisher said. "Let him work with the defense a bit, shut him down Saturday, and he'll probably be a realistic game-time decision."

Tennessee plays Indianapolis Sunday for control of the AFC South.

BROWNS: Defensive end Courtney Brown is likely to miss Sunday's game at Jacksonville because of a bruised left knee.

FALCONS: Quarterback Michael Vick returned to practice after missing the previous day's workout because of a stomach virus. He is expected to play Sunday against Tampa Bay.

PACKERS: Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila hopes to play Sunday, one week after the death of his mother in an automobile accident. The defensive end returned to Green Bay from Los Angeles but skipped another day of practice.

Funeral services for Bola Tito Anjorin Gbaja-Biamila will be held Tuesday at Inglewood, Calif.

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