Williams played in just one game after being promoted from the practice squad last week.

The seventh-round pick from Division II Washburn could wind up being placed on injured reserve if his assessment of the injury needing at least a month to heal is correct.

"It's hurting. It's a little tight. That's been the story of my life as a Titan," Williams said. "It's been a little frustrating trying to get over the injury. You get over that hump and then you have another setback with the same injury. They say it's somewhere up underneath all the other stuff. I'm going to try to get a second opinion and do whatever I can to get back on the field."

Williams added that, "It's a four-to-six week (injury) and for it to fully heal, we're probably going to have to go a full six weeks. I tried to do it their way last time, and things just didn't work. I'm just going to have to get back, work hard and hopefully, I can bounce back from this."

Williams was only going to play on special teams anyway, and the Titans need a roster spot to activate practice squad defensive tackle Amon Gordon into for this week. The Titans are down to just two defensive tackles in Jason Jones and Tony Brown, and Gordon would likely be active Sunday as the third tackle.

Offensively, the Titans fell back into the field-goal rut against Houston, something that plagued them throughout 2007. They face a tougher challenge this week as Pittsburgh is No. 1 in red-zone defense.

PLAYER NOTES

--DE Kyle Vanden Bosch underwent surgery to repair a muscle in the groin area, an injury that has plagued him since early October. Vanden Bosch said he is on the road to recovery and hopes to be ready for the Titans' first playoff game.

--CB Cary Williams could miss four-to-six weeks with a quadriceps injury and is a likely candidate for injured reserve.

--CB Cortland Finnegan was fined $25,000 by the NFL for two separate hits that drew personal-foul penalties in last Sunday's loss to Houston. Finnegan was flagged for hitting Texans QB Matt Schaub with a helmet-to-helmet hit and later for spearing Texans TE Owen Daniels.

--SS Tuff Harris, a special teams player who has been on the scout team, has been impersonating Steelers star Troy Polamalu by not only donning a No. 43 jersey in practice, but also wearing a long black wig out from underneath his helmet to simulate the Steeler safety's long hair.

--DT Amon Gordon is expected to be promoted from the practice squad to the active roster this week in order to provide depth while Albert Haynesworth is out.

--DT Jason Jones will get the start for the Titans in Albert Haynesworth's place. The rookie from Central Michigan has 40 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season.

--QB Kerry Collins hopes to bounce back from a subpar game against the Texans last week when he missed several open receivers, including a potential game-winner on a fourth-down play when he overthrew WR Justin McCareins.

--DT Amon Gordon, who has previously played for Cleveland, Denver and Baltimore before joining the Titans practice squad in midseason, will likely be promoted to the active roster and be part of the defensive line rotation.

--CB Tyrone Poole, signed during midseason because of injuries, has been inactive the past two games, but likely will be active as a backup cornerback to starters Nick Harper and Cortland Finnegan on Sunday, with Cary Williams likely out with a quad strain.

--C Kevin Mawae anchors a Titans line that has done a good job of protecting the quarterback, allowing just eight sacks this year. The Titans, however, need to find a way to run the ball effectively. Mawae, 37, made the Pro Bowl for the first time as a Titan. It is his seventh trip overall.

--RB Chris Johnson still has his goals set high. He accomplished another goal Tuesday when he was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team. He already has 1,159 yards rushing and said he still wants to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, go to the Super Bowl and be MVP of the Pro Bowl.

GAME PLAN: Points will surely be at a premium in this game as two of the NFL's top defenses square off. The Titans have to make sure they can hold up in the middle of the defensive line with Albert Haynesworth unavailable. Rookie Jason Jones is an upgrade over Randy Starks, who played when Haynesworth missed time last year, but the Titans may need to get creative and use more blitzes to pressure Ben Roethlisberger. The Titans need their linebackers to be active and sure tacklers in the run game, with Haynesworth gone and not drawing double teams.

Offensively, the Titans will have to be patient and also make enough plays in the passing game to open up some room for Chris Johnson and LenDale White to run. Last week in Houston, the Titans were a woeful two of 13 on third downs. An effort like that will bury them against the Steelers.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Titans CB Cortland Finnegan vs. Steelers WR Hines Ward. Ward is hands down the most physical wide receiver in the league, especially when it comes to blocking. Finnegan is earning the reputation as a gritty and pesky player in his own right, who isn't afraid to mix it up. Finnegan won't be matched up every time on Ward, but when they are, he has to win his share of the battles, both defending the pass and helping in run support.

Titans LT Michael Roos vs. Steelers ROLB James Harrison. Harrison is being talked about as a potential Defensive MVP, along with teammate Troy Polamalu, and Roos was just named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Roos has given up only one sack this year, and will have his hands full trying to contain Harrison, though he could get help from backs and tight ends as the Titans try to slow the Steelers' 3-4 front.

INJURY IMPACT: With Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch out until the playoffs, Sunday's game looms as a major test for a team that has been mostly coasting since a 10-0 start. The Titans need rookie Jason Jones to hold his own inside enough to allow the defensive ends to get pressure on Ben Roethlisberger. While Vanden Bosch has been in and out of the lineup, replacements Dave Ball and Jacob Ford have done a good job picking up the slack, giving the Titans hope they can weather the injury situation this week, long enough to lock up home-field advantage.