Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said SS Troy Polamalu was "asymptomatic relatively quickly" Sunday night, after he took a knee to the head in the Steelers 13-9 win at Kansas City. His status for Sunday's Week 13 game against Cincinnati is "positive in terms of participation," Tomlin said.
Polamalu will be subjected to cognitive tests to determine whether the injury will prevent him from playing in the key divisional match-up in Pittsburgh. The Steelers (8-3) are tied for the best record in the AFC, but sit behind Baltimore for the top of the AFC North by virtue of Baltimore's two wins over Pittsburgh this year.
The Steelers are rarely better without Polamalu than with him, but clearly, the Steelers medical staff will take every precaution before putting him back on the field.
Back-up Ryan Mundy played well in his absence, and it's likely he'll be prepared to assume a similar role this week if Polamalu cannot play.
The Steelers are coming off a four-turnover game, and a unit that has struggled greatly in the takeaway department finds itself with six in the last two games, both wins. Polamalu, the defending AFC Defensive Player of the Year, oddly does not have one interception. After Week 12, Polamalu is the only starting defensive back without an interception.