Pittsburgh ? The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to find out whether coach Bill Cowher was only trying to motivate them by threatening to make changes or if he really meant it.

After the Steelers (2-3) lost, 33-13, at home to Cleveland, their second dismal performance in two weeks, Cowher dropped hints he was considering some personnel moves for Sunday’s game at Denver (4-1).

Cowher didn’t go into specifics, saying only that, “Anything can change.”

But quarterback Tommy Maddox learned Cowher might not have been bluffing when he went to take snaps from center Jeff Hartings during practice and found him lined up at guard.

“It’s good for those guys to work around and play different positions because you never know what’s going to happen,” Maddox said.

Because left tackle Marvel Smith (shoulder) has played only one series in two weeks and will be out Sunday, the Steelers have been forced to work players at different positions.

They’ll go into Denver with only one fully healthy tackle, left tackle Oliver Ross. Right tackle Todd Fordham is bothered by a strained back and Mathias Nkwenti, who didn’t play in a game last season, has back spasms but still practiced. He could wind up playing Sunday on either side of the line.

Left guard Alan Faneca was an emergency backup tackle at LSU and probably could move there if necessary.