The Steelers just simply can't shake Max Starks starting at one of their two offensive tackle spots.

And they're happy about that.

Two season-ending injuries, one release, the expiration of three different contracts, the fact Starks was unsigned months into unrestricted free agency -- it doesn't matter. Starks still finds his way into the lineup for the Steelers year after year.

Starks will reclaim the starting left tackle spot Saturday night in a preseason game at Buffalo. Starks started his first game for Pittsburgh in his second season, 2005. The Steelers won the Super Bowl that year, and he also was a starter during each of the other two seasons they advanced to the Super Bowl (although he was injured in 2010).

Other than a brief stint in 2007 when he was a backup, Starks is entering his eighth season as a starter with the Steelers. He tore his ACL in a playoff loss to Denver Jan. 8, became a free agent soon thereafter, was signed by the team July 17 and was on the PUP list until early last week.

Starks practiced fully for the first time Tuesday, and with rookie Mike Adams' struggles in the first two preseason games, Starks has been promoted to the starter.

Although coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers starters generally will play at least a half, Starks might not push his knee that hard in its first game action since surgery.

"We haven't talked about it fully, but probably a quarter to a half," Starks said after practice Thursday. "See how it goes and how the knee responds, and obviously how many plays are run. In my mind, I'm shooting for at least a quarter."

Tomlin said that, "We'll play it by ear," but added, "Our intentions are to let him play."

With first-round pick David DeCastro apparently locked into the starting right guard spot, Steelers players expressed a feeling of comfort in having a reliable veteran reclaiming another spot on their somewhat-beleaguered offensive line.

"Max looks good. He's moving well and getting out on screens and running," RB Isaac Redman said. "He's going to help this team win football games."

Redman back to his old self: Redman said he was surprised with how good his hip feels this week after it had been so painful for the previous 10 days. An MRI performed late last week revealed the pain was originating in his hip and not his groin as Redman had originally suspected.

Redman did not play Sunday against Indianapolis, and his status for the Bills game was in doubt. But a strong week of practice has changed things, and Redman expects to start and play "a lot" in Buffalo.

"I would like to get a lot of contact," Redman said. "I haven't really had too much live tackling. I played that one series in the Eagles game (Aug. 9), and that's all I've had all summer.

"I'm hungry for some contact."

QB rotation: While QB Ben Roethlisberger expects to play roughly a half with the rest of the starters, Tomlin said fourth-string QB Jerrod Johnson would likely not play against the Bills. One of the three backup quarterbacks has not played in each game thus far.

Simulated week: The Steelers treated this practice week as if it was leading into a regular-season game. Coaches inserted a gameplan (albeit a watered-down one), held meetings on the appropriate days leading up to game day and practiced at times as if it was the regular season.

The starters will play the most in this, the third of four preseason games.

"All the ingredients are there for a good opportunity for us to improve and show what we're capable of," Tomlin said. "We're looking forward to watching guys work and work in game-like fashion."


Follow Steelers reporter Chris Adamski on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLPIT and @BuzzsawPGH.