By Alan Robinson

Published: Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 4:04 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Cornerback Ike Taylor (fractured ankle) will miss a third consecutive game Sunday, but Keenan Lewis (hip) should play despite sitting out the end of the Cowboys game. Taylor is undergoing workouts to regain his flexibility as the bone heals. Cortez Allen (groin) also is expected to play. Added Tuesday was Justin King, the former Gateway, Penn State and Rams cornerback. He replaces DeMarcus Van Dyke (dislocated shoulder), who will miss the rest of the season.

• Left guard Willie Colon (knee), who sat out three of the last four games, was placed on injured reserve to create a 53-man roster spot for running back Rashard Mendenhall, who was reinstated Monday from his one-game suspension.

• Right guard David DeCastro got a lot of action in his first NFL start as he set up in pass protection on 45 of 62 snaps in Dallas. He didn't miss an offensive snap. DeCastro and right tackle Kelvin Beachum formed the right side of the offensive line despite having only two prior NFL starts between them, both by Beachum. “Both are sharp, intelligent young men that did a nice job of communicating,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

• Troy Polamalu, playing with a calf injury, was given a few plays off Dec. 9 against the Chargers, but he didn't rest against the Cowboys. He played all 70 snaps.

• Heath Miller's seven catches gave him 405 in his career, third most in Steelers history behind Hines Ward (1,000) and John Stallworth (537).

• Tomlin said “a mental error” caused wide receiver Antonio Brown to run out of bounds with just more than a minute left, effectively preserving clock time for the Cowboys, who were about to get the ball back.

• As might be expected, none of the Steelers defensive backs had a good day. Tony Romo threw for 341 yards against a secondary thinned by injuries. Replacement corner Josh Victorian was targeted nine times and gave up seven completions for 88 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. The other stats: Lewis, 5 of 9, 76 yards, 1 TD; Robert Golden, 3 of 4, 30 yards, 1 TD; Polamalu, 2 of 3, 17 yards; Curtis Brown, 1 of 1, 4 yards; Ryan Clark, 1 of 2, 17 yards.

• NFL Network will air a one-hour special on The Immaculate Reception at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

1. Steelers hope new blocking scheme kick-starts running game
2. Steelers notebook: Gilbert hopes to stay on left side of O-line
3. Steelers notebook: Slimmed-down Redman optimistic for 2013
4. Steelers’ Miller watches, waits while teammates practice
5. Steelers veteran outside linebacker Woodley: ‘I’m good to go’
6. Steelers’ Polamalu trim, fit as he arrives for OTAs
7. Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger likes the revamped offense
8. Coach Tomlin, Steelers facing plenty of questions as OTAs start
9. Steelers notebook: Less talk, more work is Tomlin’s theme
10. Steelers might be looking at a youth movement in 2013
11. Steelers rookie moves on after PSU scandal

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