Steelers guard Kendall Simmons out for the season

LATROBE, Pa. - Pittsburgh right guard Kendall Simmons will miss the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Simmons was injured in practice on Wednesday. An MRI exam Thursday morning revealed a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament.

``All these things are part of the game,'' coach Bill Cowher said, ``We're not the only ones going through it, everyone's going through it and the one thing you don't want to do is alter how you approach the game.''

Linebacker Kendrell Bell, who has been bothered by a nagging shoulder injury, will sit out the game against the Texans. The 2001 Defensive Rookie of the Year missed much of the 2002 season because of injuries.

He'll be joined on the bench by cornerback Terry Fair (hamstring), linebacker Clark Haggans (broken fingers), and defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy (calf).

Simmons' agent, Eric Metz, said he will get a second opinion next week in Birmingham, Ala., Dr. James Andrews, a noted knee specialist.

``He's holding out hope that there's some way he can brace it up or do something along those lines to get out there and play, but it looks like there's a very slim chance of that,'' Metz said.