Training camp 2008

The Steelers' training camp injury situation worsened considerably Tuesday when it was learned that second-year punter Daniel Sepulveda suffered an ACL tear in his right knee that will need surgery that likely will keep him out of action for the entire 2008 season.

While Sepulveda was somewhat optimistic about his chances to play this year, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin informed the media that the club already had claimed Paul Ettinger off waivers from the Detroit Lions.

Kevin Colbert, the club's director of football operations, actually noted that the Steelers' new punter will be Paul Ernster. He'll arrive at Saint Vincent College Tuesday night.

"It's unfortunate for Daniel, on a personal level,'' Tomlin said, "but as you guys know it's part of football... So, we have to be prepared to move forward, and we'll do that. It's his plant leg, his right leg, and after punting (Monday) he experienced some discomfort, to say the least. He got it looked at today, and that was the end result.''

Charlie Batch, the backup quarterback, was place-kicker Jeff Reed's holder during Tuesday afternoon's practice. And he even pulled off a nice fake where he took the snap, pulled up and tossed a short touchdown pass to reserve tight end Jon Dekker. Tomlin said that Ernster also has the ability to be a holder.

"(Surgery) definitely is an option,'' Sepulveda said following the afternoon practice. "We'll talk about it more tonight, and we'll know more tomorrow. So, we'll see what happens. I was just warming up (Monday), the same stuff we always do, and I guess that extra little glide in my need finally got to me.''

Sepulveda was referring to the situation that occurred after he had his right knee operated on during his college years at Baylor. The left-footed punter tore the ACL in his right knee three years ago and had it repaired by surgery.

"Shortly after I got my ACL fixed initially, it kind of slipped on me a little bit,'' Sepulveda said. "It got real swollen, and the doctor thought it was re-torn at that point. But the MRI was good. It turns out that there's always been a little pivot in there. The ACL was tight before, but after that it loosened up a little bit... They call that a little glide. So, it can slide a little bit.''

Since it's a re-tear of the ACL, Sepulveda noted that there wasn't a lot of swelling. So, he likely will have surgery relatively soon to have it repaired.

The passing game picked up the pace a little bit with second-round draft pick Limas Sweed making more than a few big catches.

"He better, because we're giving him a bunch of reps,'' Tomlin said when told that Sweed looked like he made a lot of plays. "He's a guy that's got a lot of energy. He's a young guy, but he's got a long way to go... He never gets tired, so we're giving him a lot of reps. And he did a good job today.''

On one pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Sweed beat double-coverage deep. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound wideout curled in between cornerback Ike Taylor and safety Ryan Clark to pull in a 35-yard pass near the sideline.

Veteran Hines Ward dropped a Roethlisberger toss across the middle, underneath the coverage, and took a self-inflicted punishment of a dozen pushups on the sideline. This elicited a loud cheer from the fans in attendance. Ward made up for it a little later with nice catch and run for 25 yards.

Fourth-year pro Nate Washington, trying to secure the third receiver spot ahead of Sweed, made several big catches. He tight-roped the sideline to haul in a finger-tip catch and also pulled in one in the back of the end zone for a late score.

If Ward, Santonio Holmes, Washington and Sweed are in, that means there might just be one more roster spot for a wideout. Two at most, but playing time for the fourth guy on up is diminished for sure.

In the 11-on-11 team drills, veteran cornerback Deshea Townsend - the most-tenured Steelers player along with Ward (11 seasons with the club) - picked off Roethlisberger. Reserve safety Grant Mason intercepted rookie Dennis Dixon.

Cornerback Bryant McFadden and safety Anthony Smith (groin strains) remained on the sideline Tuesday, along with safety Troy Polamalu (left hamstring), nose tackle Casey Hampton and offensive guard Chris Kemoeatu (triceps). The latter three are on the Physical Unable to Perform list.

Tuesday afternoon's workout ran about 15 minutes longer than usual, since the heat index was only about 85 degrees.

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