PITTSBURGH (AP) – Though Ben Roethlisberger didn’t miss a practice all week as he recovers from an appendectomy, he remains questionable for the Steelers’ Monday night game at Jacksonville.

In the Steelers’ minds, perhaps. The Jaguars aren’t buying it.

“We are pretty confident we are going to see Big Ben,” Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said.

Though Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said earlier this week he might not decide until game time whether Roethlisberger would play, the quarterback appears ready to go. Besides practicing, he threw to receivers Monday and Tuesday on what were supposed to be off days. Normally, the Steelers only hold out injured players when they can’t practice.

“He’s progressed, and there haven’t been any setbacks,” Cowher said.

Roethlisberger sat out the season-opening 28-17 victory over the Dolphins on Sept. 7 after having his appendix removed four days before.

Roethlisberger missed last year’s game against the Jaguars with a knee injury – one of four games he missed in 2005 – and watched as backup Tommy Maddox had four turnovers in a 23-17 overtime loss.

All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu (shoulder), listed as questionable earlier in the week, was upgraded to probable after practicing for three consecutive days. He has not missed a game since being drafted in 2003. Wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring) missed practice Wednesday, but worked out the next two days.

The Jaguars have beaten the Steelers nine times in 17 games since Cowher was hired in 1992, the most victories for any opponent over that span except for the Titans, who are 12-11 against Pittsburgh during the same period.