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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have had only two winless preseasons since 1965, and none under coach Bill Cowher. They are in danger of having their third, not that anyone seems worried.

Ward to miss Thursday's game
Ward Wide receiver Hines Ward, who hasn't gone through a full practice since Aug. 3 because of his aching hamstring, will sit out a fourth consecutive game Thursday. The only other starter who won't play because of injury is right tackle Max Starks (knee). He will be replaced by rookie Willie Colon or second-year lineman Trai Essex. -- The Associated Press

Cowher, for obvious reasons, is much more concerned about the Steelers' opener against Miami a week from Thursday than their final preseason game this Thursday against Carolina. That's why quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and some other starters may not even get off the bench against the Dolphins.

Roethlisberger has played only four series in three games, mostly to get reacquainted with playing at game speed and to develop timing with his receivers. If he plays against the Panthers, it likely will be only one series.

Cowher generally doesn't play his starters much in the last preseason match, even when the Steelers had nine to 10 days between the final preseason game and the season opener. With only a week between games, Cowher is even more reluctant to put them on the field.

"Since we've gone to this Thursday format of opening up -- which was done for all the right reasons -- it has definitely altered the thinking of the fourth preseason game as it relates to your starters," Cowher said Tuesday.

Or, in this case, not playing the starters.

The Steelers have come close to going winless in preseason play under Cowher -- they were 1-3 in 1994, 1995, 1999 and 2003 -- but have never actually done so. Not that it matters much; the Colts were 0-5 in the preseason a year ago, then flirted with an unbeaten season before losing in their 14th game.

"You never play any game not to win," Cowher said. "I don't like losing at anything, regardless of the stakes or what the ground rules are. But, even in the preseason, you have a plan on how you are going to play your players. ... I'm not worried about this team from a confidence standpoint if we go through this 0-4."

Cowher reasons that a winning team doesn't need to prove it can win in the preseason, although teams with a history of losing might benefit from developing some confidence by winning preseason games.

"The culture that you're trying to establish, so to speak, may play a factor," Cowher said. "I am not really concerned with that with this team. I think the focus of this team [Monday] was dedicated solely to Miami. We'll start to do a little Carolina stuff, but we're gearing up for that first game."

The Steelers haven't had a winless preseason since going 0-4 in 1987, and their only other one in the last 40-plus years was an 0-5 in 1965, during Mike Nixon's only season as coach. They went 2-12 that year, leading owner Art Rooney to bring in former Packers assistant Bill Austin as coach in 1966.

The Steelers have made only two other coaching switches in the last 40 years: 1969, when Chuck Noll replaced Austin, and in 1992, when Noll retired and Cowher was hired.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press