Nov 8, 2002 By Jim Wexell For The 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Tim Lewis crossed his fingers – perhaps unwittingly – when the subject of the Atlanta Falcons’ running game came up. No, Lewis isn’t hoping that luck will stretch the Steelers’ NFL-long streak of four games in which it’s held opponents under 100 yards rushing.

Instead, Lewis is hoping to avoid watching running back T.J. Duckett on Sunday. The Falcons’ rookie is listed as doubtful for the game with an injured foot.

“That kid’s a load,” Lewis said of the 254-pounder scouts compared to Jerome Bettis prior to last April’s draft.

Duckett was selected with the 18th pick and is second on his team in rushing, behind quarterback Michael Vick, with 348 yards on 81 carries (4.3 average).

“He’s really, really good,” said Plaxico Burress, a former teammate of Duckett at Michigan State. “The thing people should know about him is that he’s a lot faster than what you think when he gets in the open field. He’s fast for a guy that weighs close to 260 pounds. He runs like a 4.5 40. He can really get down the field if you don’t watch him.”

Duckett missed Atlanta’s win over New Orleans two weeks ago with a plantar fascia injury of his right foot. He returned last week and ripped off a 33-yard run on his first carry. He gained a career-high 75 yards on 13 carries before leaving the game with an injured left ankle. He hasn’t practiced this week and in all likelihood will be replaced in the lineup by 5-foot-8, 180-pound Warrick Dunn.

Most coaches and talent scouts will tell you – off the record – that Duckett is by far the bigger threat at tailback. But Dunn enjoyed a revival of sorts two weeks ago.

Filling in for Duckett, Dunn carried 23 times for 142 yards against the Saints. It was his first 100-yard game since Dec. 18, 2000. But in the Falcons’ other seven games this year, Dunn has carried 71 times for 200 yards, an average of 2.8 yards per carry.

And that’s why the fingers are crossed in Pittsburgh.

INJURY UPDATES: Duckett’s status was one of the few the Falcons didn’t change Thursday. Starting free safety Keion Carpenter (knee) was updated from doubtful to questionable; top-line defensive front-seven backups Travis Hall (calf) and Sam Rogers (groin/calf) went from questionable to probable; and starting defensive end Brady Smith (shoulder) went from doubtful to probable.

Other key Falcons in danger of missing the game include third cornerback Juran Boldon (knee), who is doubtful; and starting left tackle Bob Whitfield (shoulder), backup tackle Michael Thompson (shoulder) and fullback Bob Christian (knee) are questionable.

Steelers running back Jerome Bettis (knee) returned to practice for the first time in nearly three weeks yesterday, but is still questionable for Sunday’s game. Safety Mike Logan (hamstring) missed his second practice this week and is also questionable.