St. Louis ? Marshall Faulk could get an additional week to recuperate from a broken left hand and arthroscopic surgery on his right knee while in uniform.

St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz said Friday that Faulk probably would dress for Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh, but most likely would be available only in case of emergency. Faulk has missed three games plus the bye week.

St. Louis (4-2) needs him back: Stand-in starter Lamar Gordon has a sprained ankle and hasn’t practiced this week.

“Whenever you have injuries an extra week always helps,” Faulk said. “But in the situation we’re in, I could dress and not even play and it’ll be that other week we’re talking about.

“If something happens and if I have to go, then I’m available.”

Faulk has increased his work load in practice each day this week, but Martz would prefer to keep him sidelined until a Nov. 2 game at San Francisco.

“I think he’s at the point now where, if needed, he could play and be all right,” Martz said. “But we’re going to try and avoid it at all costs.”

Rookie running back Arlen Harris will get his first NFL start. Undrafted out of Hofstra, Harris had 85 yards on 18 carries and a 3-yard touchdown run after Gordon was sidelined in the first quarter.

“This offense is pretty complicated and it speaks volumes for him to not only have the ability to play and do things, now he’s about to start and Mike feels comfortable with putting him in that role,” Faulk said. “I respect the things he can do with the ball and the things he can do without the ball.”

Faulk broke his hand Sept. 21, an injury that was supposed to sideline him for five to six weeks, and while he was out he had knee surgery to take care of lingering problems. The knee surgery was expected to sideline him only three weeks, but leg strength has been the biggest question in Faulk’s recuperation.

“Three weeks ago I probably could have started running and got my knee back to where it needs to be, but with the issue with the hand I just kind of waited,” Faulk said.

When he ran indoors on Monday he said the knee was “iffy,” but it has gotten better the last three practices as he’s increased his participation.

“I think mentally you get the confidence back in the leg, and physically your knee just starts functioning without you thinking about telling it what to do, like the things you do in rehab,” Faulk said.

All week, he’s gotten work on the scout team running the Steelers’ offense against the Rams’ No. 1 defense. He did that to allow Harris and fellow rookie Joffrey Reynolds, also undrafted, to take reps with the offense.

It’s been an unusual sight in practice, with Faulk lining up before two-time MVP quarterback Kurt Warner, now a second-stringer behind Marc Bulger. Faulk even has received snaps as a safety on the scout team.