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Polamalu practices with Steelers for first time in three weeks

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu practiced Friday for the first time in three weeks, but it remains unclear if the All-Pro will return for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns.

If Polamalu had his say, he'd play after missing the previous two games with a right Achilles' tendon injury. But the decision belongs to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

"I felt better than I have been feeling, so I feel pretty good about that," Polamalu told the *Pittsburgh Tribune-Review*. "I've been feeling better and better since I missed the Jets game. At this point of the season, you've just got to roll with injuries since everybody's injured right now."

Polamalu officially is listed as questionable, and his status might be a game-time decision. Tomlin and the Steelers' medical staff want to see how Polamalu responds to Friday's practice before deciding whether or not he can play Sunday.

"It's 100 percent on what coach Tomlin decides," Polamalu said. "Right now (the Achilles) feels pretty good, so hopefully I don't have a setback."

It's also possible that the Steelers will decide to rest Polamalu some more since they already have clinched a playoff berth. However, if they beat the Browns on Sunday, the Steelers would claim the AFC North title and a first-round playoff bye, making Polamalu's return needed.

"It would help me tremendously," Polamalu said of having a playoff bye week. "It would help a lot of guys on this team tremendously. There's guys that are just barely hanging on by a string, week by week. Unfortunately for me, that string broke, and it's time for me to tie it back up there again."

Polamalu was selected this week by his teammates as the Steelers' most valuable player, the first time in his career he was chosen. He also was picked for his sixth Pro Bowl.

Running back Mewelde Moore (knee) and defensive end Aaron Smith (triceps) will sit out Sunday. Linebacker Jason Worilds (knee) is questionable.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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