Sep 3, 2006 4 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Duce Staley made the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 53-man roster Saturday despite an uneven preseason. Staley dropped to No. 3 on the depth chart at running back and may not dress for some early-season games.

Staley’s roster status was in doubt – even coach Bill Cowher said so – after the three-time 1,000-yard rusher with the Eagles averaged 2.2 yards per carry during exhibition play. The Steelers showed their concern at the position by trading Friday with New England for rookie Patrick Cobbs.

But Cowher recalled Saturday how injuries briefly left the Steelers with only one healthy running back last season, even when they were carrying longtime star Jerome Bettis in addition to starter Willie Parker, Staley and Verron Haynes.

“We’ve got to be able to use these guys to where they’re not going to be hit out by November and December,” Cowher said. “It’s very important that we’re able to keep these guys fresh. It’s a big key for us, a team that runs the football.”

Haynes, used mostly as a third-down back during his first four NFL seasons, is now Parker’s backup despite never carrying more than 12 times in a game.

The Steelers cut 22 players in one of the biggest single-day cutdowns in club history, but only wide receiver Quincy Morgan and linebacker Andre Frazier saw much playing time last season.

Frazier made the team last year as an undrafted free agent, while Morgan was picked up before the season after being cut by the Cowboys. Morgan made nine catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns during the season, then injured an ankle in a first-round playoff game against Cincinnati and missed the rest of the playoffs.

Staley, the Steelers’ most experienced runner, figured to go into the season as the backup. He was signed to start two years ago and was averaging 101 yards per game through seven games, but has played little since then after injuring a hamstring.

Cobbs, the Patriots’ leading rusher during the preseason, won’t begin practicing until Sunday. However, it seems likely he will be activated for games ahead of Staley because he also plays special teams.

“The kid had a very good preseason, watching him run the ball, catch it and cover kicks,” Cowher said. “He was very impressive.”

Cowher also designated Ryan Clark as the starting free safety ahead of Tyrone Carter and rookie Anthony Smith. Clark, formerly with the Redskins, was the Steelers’ only major offseason pickup. He signed as a free agent after Chris Hope left to play for Tennessee.

Willie Reid, the third-round draft pick from Florida State, will open ahead of first-rounder Santonio Holmes as the punt returner. Cowher hasn’t made up his mind about the kickoff returners for Thursday’s opener against Miami, but Holmes and Reid were used there during the preseason.

“We’ve never really gotten the kicking return phase going,” Cowher said. “I know we’ve played different people and combinations, but the fact of the matter is we haven’t been in sync returning the ball on punts or kickoffs.”

After a 15-14, last-play loss to Carolina on Thursday gave the Steelers only their second winless preseason in 40 years, Cowher said these final roster cuts might be the most difficult he has made.

But there were no surprises when the Steelers cut 20 players Saturday, even though quarterbacks Omar Jacobs and Shane Boyd were among them. That leaves only starter Ben Roethlisberger and backup Charlie Batch on the roster, but fifth-round pick Jacobs will join the practice squad unless he is claimed by another team.

Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson, a former high school QB, will be the emergency quarterback.

The Steelers also cut punter Mike Barr for the third consecutive year even though he had a solid camp, assuring 16-year veteran Chris Gardocki of keeping his job.

Also cut were offensive linemen Tim Brown and Brandon Torrey, tight ends Charles Davis and Jon Dekker, defensive ends Orien Harris, Shaun Nua and Lee Vickers, running back Cedric Humes, fullbacks Branden Joe and John Kuhn, safety Mike Lorello, cornerback Anthony Madison, wide receiver Lee Mays, defensive tackle Scott Paxson, linebackers Richard Seigler and Ron Stanley and wide receiver Walter Young.

Four of the five draft picks made after the fourth round were cut – Harris, Jacobs, Davis and Humes – with only sixth-round center Marvin Philip making it. The Steelers have never cut so many picks since director of football operations Kevin Colbert took over seven years ago, but they have never had so little roster turnover during an offseason.