STEELERS LB Porter upgraded to doubtful

The gunshot victim could see action Sunday in Kansas City.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- One week after being shot in the parking lot of a Denver night club, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was seen running along the sideline, waving a towel to exhort one of his teammates during an interception return on opening day.
But Porter could be doing his running on the field Sunday in Kansas City.
Steelers Coach Bill Cowher announced Tuesday that he has listed Porter as doubtful to play in the game, which in the NFL means Porter has a 25 percent chance of playing.
Cowher initially said Porter would return within two to eight weeks, and his best estimates are coming true.
"I really just tried to get you guys to understand this was not as bad as some people were saying," Cowher said at a news conference. "As the information comes, it just keeps getting better and better and, knock on wood, hopefully it'll continue to be that way."
Infection risk
Cowher said the risk of infection was the biggest concern of doctors after they removed a 9 mm bullet from Porter's upper right thigh on Labor Day. The risk has been minimized with the help of the Steelers' training staff, who have been changing the dressing on the wound twice a day.
"That was the biggest concern and he's doing better," Cowher said. "We just don't want to put him out there when he's not ready to play and be able to defend himself, but at the same time we're welcoming him back as soon as he can get back."
Porter's presence was felt by both teams during the Steelers 34-14 season opening victory against the Baltimore Ravens.
Porter and Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis engaged in a pre-game argument, and then Porter was pointed out to the TV audience for running ahead of teammate Kendrell Bell along the Steelers' bench area during Bell's 42-yard interception return in the first quarter.
Feud with Lewis
After the game, Porter took his pre-game problem with Lewis to the media and criticized Lewis' performance during the game.
"He had one tackle today, maybe two," Porter said, "and he was jumping around like he had 30."
Two Steelers, linemen Aaron Smith and cornerback Dewayne Washington, made gestures during the game indicating their sympathy for Porter. Wide receiver Plaxico Burress wore a sticker on his helmet bearing Porter's No. 55.
"Before the game, in the locker room, we got together as a team, getting ready to pray, and you could see a guy bending over on the counter with tears in his eyes because he couldn't be out there," Burress said. "It kind of sent a message to all of us to just go out there and play hard every down because you never know what's going to happen.
"To see him with tears in his eye because he couldn't play, because of something that was totally out of his control, it kind of put things in perspective."
Victim
Porter was one of six victims shot while leaving the Denver night club following Colorado State's game against Colorado. One victim was killed. Police believe Porter was an innocent bystander.
"He's doing some light jogging and running. You saw him running on the field the other day. He's getting there," said Cowher. "I'm not going to rule him out. [I'll] dangle that 'doubtful' out there for him and see where he goes with it. If he's able to go and we see where he is at the end of the week, we may let him play. If not, then we'll see where he is next week and go from there."
Cowher also listed running back Jerome Bettis as questionable with a groin injury that "is not anywhere near the injuries he's had in the past," Cowher said. A different type of groin injury sidelined Bettis for most of the final two months of the 2001 season.