PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Tommy Maddox will be the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback against Houston on Sunday, three weeks after being briefly paralyzed by a hit in Tennessee.
Maddox has not played since being hurt Nov. 17, except to hold on kicks Sunday in Jacksonville. Kordell Stewart was 38-of-52 for 438 yards, one touchdown and one interception and ran 22 times for 124 yards and a touchdown in two winning starts as Maddox's replacement.
Despite Stewart's effective play as the Steelers beat Cincinnati and Jacksonville, Cowher said Tuesday that Maddox's strong play before he was hurt did not justify him losing his job to an injury.
The week before a hit by Tennessee's Keith Bulluck temporarily left him with cerebral and spinal cord concussions, Maddox passed for a club-record 473 yards in a 34-34 tie with Atlanta.
Cowher announced his decision before practice resumed Wednesday so it did not become a weeklong distraction to the Steelers (7-4-1), who are 6-1-1 in their last eight games. Last week, he declined to confirm Stewart would start in Jacksonville until game day.