Willie Parker

If Willie Parker cannot get up to speed, the Steelers will have to count on Rashard Mendenhall Sunday night after coach Mike Tomlin counted him out last Sunday in Cincinnati.

Mendenhall, who ran into his quarterback in his first carry of the season vs. Tennessee, did not know the offense well enough to suit his coach. Parker takes partial blame for that.

"He made a lot of mistakes last week, and I was kind of on him and I think that's the reason he made mistakes," Parker said. "When you have people in your ear all the time, I mean it causes you to go out and play like he wants you to play, or coach wants you to play and you never really get back to playing like how you play."

Mendenhall took his medicine and said he is ready to make amends.

"It's just a learning experience, you know what I'm saying? You learn in the NFL that minor things are major, so be on top of everything. I'm just looking forward to get an opportunity and be able to play and show the fans and my teammates what I'm able to do."