PITTSBURGH -- On Tuesday, Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher talked about Thursday's final preseason game Thursday against Carolina.

One player who won't be on the field is wide receiver Hines Ward.

He has missed all of the team's preseason games because of a hamstring injury.

Ward said his focus is on the opener on Sept. 7 against Miami.

"I want to be smart about it. I don't want to aggravate it. I'm not going to rush back like I did. I'm not going to come back and try to give it a go and trigger it again," said Ward.

As for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the other starters, coach Cowher wouldn't say how much they will play or if they'll play at all.

Cowher said that he's not too concerned about the Steelers preseason record.

Deshea Townsend and Chukky Okobi were both at practice.

This was Okobi's first practice since his surgery on a herniated disc.

Townsend practiced with a cast on his broken thumb.