HINES WARDWide Receiver
It was one of the items debated in the run-up to Ben Roethlisberger's return from his suspension: Which of the team's receivers would benefit most once he came back?
The case could be made for Mike Wallace, because of Roethlisberger's arm strength; for Heath Miller, because the tight end is often a secondary option and therefore utilized most effectively by a quarterback comfortable with the offense; and for Hines Ward, because of the rapport that had developed over the course of the six previous season between catcher and passer.
Two games into Roethlisberger's return, it seems as though it's Ward. In the last two games, both of which Roethlisberger started, Ward has 12 catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns, including seven for 131 and a 21-yard score yesterday against the Dolphins. For that, Ward is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were Roethlisberger, who completed 19-of-27 for 302 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 132.0; Larry Foote, who came on after the injury to LaMarr Woodley and contributed four tackles and a sack; Ike Taylor, who did a consistently nice job in denying the ball to Brandon Marshall, who finished with five catches for 57 yards, and added two special teams tackles.
