Injuries bring back familiar face in Pittsburgh

By Neal Coolong  |   Wednesday, October 01, 2008  |  Comments( 3 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers aren't straying very far from whom they know to help fix their current running back crisis.

A day after losing rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall for the season with a broken shoulder (the same day it was announced starter Willie Parker will miss another game because of a sprained knee), the Steelers signed Najeh Davenport, and will likely sign practice squad back Gary Russell.

With Parker and Mendenhall out, and Carey Davis questionable for Sunday night's game at Jacksonville with a sprained ankle, the Steelers have one healthy running back -- Mewelde Moore.

Commentary: Coach Mike Tomlin told the Post-Gazette, "Rest assured, we'll play with a running back this week."

Tongue-in-cheek, perhaps, but certainly a valid statement. It's been a very long time since the Steelers have been this thin at the running back position. But it's a position in which Davenport should be comfortable; he first signed with the Steelers the week before they traveled to Jacksonville in 2006, sticking with the team until it cut him this preseason.

Davenport was released in favor of Mendenhall, but had some success with the Steelers last season (499 yards, 4.7 yards per carry). Not against Jacksonville, though. In a Week 15 loss, Davenport rushed twice for minus-4 yards. He scored two touchdowns in the playoff rematch, but rushed 16 times for a mere 25 yards.

Not that the Steelers have much of a choice. Salary cap-strapped and short on time to teach their offense to another running back, Davenport became the only logical choice to establish depth. As Tomlin alludes, they need someone in the backfield this week against a tough run defense.

Fan Pulse:Steelers fans posting on the Pittsburgh Live message board are discussing the Davenport acquisition and how Russell may fit on the team.

Fantasy Football Impact: It's safe to say that another week without Parker, combined with the loss of right guard Kendall Simmons (placed on the IR with an Achilles' heel injury), does not bode well for the Steeler running game. They owe a lot of their victory Monday night against Baltimore to their no-huddle offense, which got wide receiver Santonio Holmes his first touchdown of the year and made Moore into a viable receiving threat. Look for the Steelers to pass a bit more than usual Sunday night at Jacksonville.

Injury Watch: It's unknown right now whether Davis will be able to play, but the Steelers will release their full injury report by Wednesday afternoon.
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one...
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