PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Steelers’ Long Reportedly May Return to Practice

Pittsburgh Steeler guard Terry Long was granted NFL approval to return to practice with the team pending an appeal of his positive result on a steroids test, according to a published report.

Long, who attempted suicide after learning the test results, received notice from the NFL this week that he can rejoin the Steelers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Joe Montana’s elbow soreness in his throwing arm flared again Thursday, forcing him to miss another San Francisco 49er practice. Montana has missed three of the team’s past four days of practice. The players had an off-day Wednesday. He was held out of practice Sunday and Monday but rejoined workouts Tuesday, when he apparently aggravated the right elbow injury.

Coach George Seifert downplayed the injury, saying team doctors “are of the opinion it’s not going to be an ongoing thing.”

After missing more than two weeks because of a groin injury, Detroit Lion quarterback Rodney Peete has strained muscles on his left side and could miss Saturday’s exhibition game at Kansas City. The former USC quarterback returned to full practice Tuesday for the first time since suffering a pulled groin in the team’s opening exhibition game against the Denver Broncos July 27.

The Cleveland Browns play at Washington in the lone exhibition game on tap tonight.