Grdnic: Will Allen eyes opportunity to play with the starters Sunday night

PITTSBURGH -- Will Allen originally was signed to the Steelers roster in March to be a backup safety and special-teams ace, but the seven-year NFL veteran should get a rare start against the Broncos Sunday at 8 p.m. in Denver.

While it hasn't been officially noted by the Steelers, it's highly unlikely that starting free safety Ryan Clark will play the club's third preseason game due to the altitude level in Denver. Clark played in a game there in 2007 and needed spleen and gall bladder surgery to save his life. Clark missed a Monday night game there last season.

"It's a tremendous opportunity, most definitely,'' Allen said Monday. "To roll with the starters, they're a close-knit group, and I'm new to the team. So, to be able to play with those guys and get an opportunity to play a lot of snaps with them, it's going to be a great opportunity to be part of that.

"(So), I'm just ready to do whatever the coaches ask me to do. Whether it's in a starting role, as a backup or a special teams ace. Whatever it is, I'm willing and ready to do it. (And) I can't wait to get that chance this week.''

While Allen has been a solid starter in the league, he's made a mark on special teams as well and was particularly effective on coverage teams during Mike Tomlin's tenure as the secondary coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.