Harrison joins the wounded

PITTSBURGH -- Cornerback Duane Starks went down with an injury on the first play from scrimmage against the Steelers. If it was a sign, it was a bad sign.

Starks wouldn't be the last Patriots defensive back to be hurt.

Safety Rodney Harrison, perhaps the most important member of the secondary, suffered a knee injury that appeared to be so serious a teammate said, ''I would be surprised if he plays again this season."

Second-year safety Guss Scott replaced Harrison, who was on crutches in the locker room after the game.

''[I was thinking], aw, man, another DB down," safety Eugene Wilson said. ''Then I hoped it wasn't serious. Once they bring the stretcher out, that's never good, but I just wish him the best and hopefully things work out all right."

Harrison was hurt as he came up to help stop a Steelers' running play midway through the first quarter. It appeared Pittsburgh wide receiver Cedrick Wilson was bumped and rolled into Harrison's legs.

''We don't know what's going on with him, but obviously, he didn't come back in the game," linebacker Rosevelt Colvin said. ''Whatever is going on, we hope that the situation is not as bad as it [appeared], and he can return as soon as possible.

''Anytime a guy goes down, it's unfortunate. I've been the guy that went down, so you hope the best for the situation."

Harrison, a 12-year veteran who has not missed a start in his two-plus seasons with the Patriots, reached immediately for his left knee in obvious pain.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher visited Harrison while he lay on the ground.

''You're disappointed," said quarterback Tom Brady. ''You see him out there and he's kind of squirming around and you know it's bad because he's always a guy who pops up and runs off the field. It's tough. He's a team leader, one of the best players in the league."

Light's out, as well

Tackle Matt Light hurt his right leg in the game, and also left the field on a cart.

Light missed time during training camp with an unreported injury that required a support boot and crutches.

Rookie Nick Kaczur subbed for Light and had a solid, if not spectacular, game.

Kaczur had been playing every third series in a rotation system the first two games, but had not entered yesterday's game before Light went down on the Patriots' fifth possession.

Happy returns

The Patriots' special teams had received its share of criticism after the first two games, but much of that is forgotten now, thanks in large part to Ellis Hobbs, who set up the winning drive with a 34-yard kickoff return.

''Once I caught the ball, all I was thinking was read the blocks, hold on to the ball and get up the field," Hobbs said. ''The other 10 guys had the hard jobs. They had to block the Steelers. All I've got to do is run."

Bethel Johnson, who had surgery on his foot because of an offseason injury, also gave the return team a boost, playing for the first time this season.

Johnson sat out training camp, returned to play in the exhibition finale against the Giants, and has been out since with a thigh problem.

He had three kickoff returns for 69 yards, including a return that was shortened more than 20 yards because of a holding penalty.

''I have to give glory to God, he kept me protected the whole game, even though I was out there doing things I hadn't done in a long time," Johnson said. ''I enjoyed it. I had fun."

Numbers game

It wasn't exactly deja vu, but Brady noticed the similarity.

When Pittsburgh scored the tying touchdown, Brady looked at the clock and saw the magic numbers 1:21, the same amount of time he had to lead the Patriots down the field to a game-winning field goal in the 2001 Super Bowl against St. Louis.

''It was funny -- a minute 21 left, we've seen that before," Brady said. ''I looked up and said 'What more could you want?' In a tough environment, fans going crazy."

The difference between the situations -- aside from one being the third game of the season and the other being for the championship -- is Brady didn't get onto the field against the Steelers until 1:14 remained, after Hobbs's return.

Ron Borges of the Globe staff contributed to this report.