Nov 19, 2002 By Associated Press 3 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers know they’ll have a new quarterback when they play Cincinnati on Sunday. They might have a new kicker, too. Worried by Todd Peterson’s ongoing slump, the Steelers will bring in at least four kickers for tryouts Tuesday. They expect to decide by the end of the day if they will sign one of them.

If only for salary cap reasons, Peterson could be kept around even if another kicker is signed. But coach Bill Cowher clearly seems to want to make a change now that Peterson’s struggles may be costing the Steelers games.

Peterson was 2-of-4 in the 34-34 tie with Atlanta last week, with a potential game-winning field goal blocked on overtime. He was 0-for-2 in Sunday’s 31-23 loss at Tennessee, missing from 31 and 37 yards.

It didn’t help that Peterson injured ribs on his right side while making the tackle on his first kickoff Sunday, possibly affecting his follow-through for the rest of the game.

Peterson came into the season as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, but is only 12-of-19. His seven misses lead the NFL, just as Kris Brown had a league-high 14 misses last season before leaving the Steelers to sign with Houston.

Cowher did not talk to reporters Monday, but was visibly agitated Sunday with Peterson’s latest failures.

“We have to have a more consistent kicker,” Cowher said. “Our kicker right now is not kicking the ball very well, and that’s a problem.”

Asked if the Steelers are in the market for another kicker, Cowher said, “You can take whatever you want. I know it’s a problem. And I need to exhaust every option right now. We have to see what our options are. We cannot miss the makable field goals that we are missing right now.”

Among those the Steelers will bring in are former Maryland kicker Joe O’Donnell, who was in the Steelers’ training camp and was 1-for-1 during exhibition play; and Michael Husted, a former Tampa Bay kicker who was briefly with the Colts and Chiefs earlier this season. He has been inconsistent during his career, missing nearly three of every 10 attempts.

The new Steelers quarterback, of course, is their old quarterback: Kordell Stewart, who played only one series in six games before replacing the injured Tommy Maddox on Sunday.

Stewart rallied the Steelers to two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions, but came in with Pittsburgh trailing 31-7 and the Titans laying back in a prevent defense.

Stewart is certain to start Sunday against Cincinnati (1-9) and, likely, the week after at Jacksonville. The Steelers are expected to be very cautious in bringing back Maddox, who is still undergoing tests for his brain and spinal cord concussions.

“It’s unfortunate how it happened,” Stewart said Monday. “But to have the opportunity again is a good feeling.

“Sitting on the side isn’t the easiest thing to deal with, but now the opportunity is here and it’s time to move on and help this team get back on the right page.”

Wide receiver Hines Ward was impressed with how Stewart handled his benching. Stewart made the Pro Bowl last season as the Steelers went 13-3 and reached the AFC title game, only to be benched after Maddox prevented an 0-3 start by rallying them to an overtime victory over Cleveland on Sept. 29.

“I don’t think anybody lost confidence in Kordell,” Ward said. “Kordell showed a lot of character. He didn’t sit back and complain, he encouraged everybody. I knew he would get an opportunity, I just didn’t know when.”