Bill Cowher might not have to decide which running back to deactivate against the Cleveland Browns. It appears injuries will settle the issue for him.

	Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Steelers running back Willie Parker might not play against the Browns on Sunday due to an ankle injury. Click photo for larger image.

Willie Parker (ankle) and Jerome Bettis (quadriceps), each of whom are listed as questionable on the injury report, didn't practice for the second day in a row. It appears Parker, the sixth-leading rusher in the AFC with 615 yards, will not play against the Browns -- the first game he has missed since becoming the starter.

That means Duce Staley and Bettis -- the backfield that began the 2004 season together -- likely will be the two-man rotation for the Sunday night game at Heinz Field.

Staley will make his first start since the season finale last season in Buffalo.

"I'm getting better every day," said Bettis, who did not dress for the 20-10 victory Sunday in Green Bay. "It's getting more critical as we get closer to the game. We'll see what happens. I'll get out there and see if I can do [it]."

Bettis' thigh was bruised Oct. 23 in Cincinnati when Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman tackled him for a 3-yard loss near the end of the third quarter. Bettis played the following week against Baltimore, carrying eight times for 22 yards, but was deactivated the following week when the bruise was still sore.

His injury allowed Staley to dress for only the second time this season and rush for 76 yards on 15 carries -- the first time Staley had touched the ball since the AFC championship game loss to New England in January.

"He's always had that [swagger]," Bettis said of Staley. "All the guys have that swagger. Every guy believes they're the guy. When the opportunity comes, they capitalize on it."

In a tight spot

Tight end Jerame Tuman was carted off the practice field after his ankle was sprained in a team drill. The extent of the injury will not be known until today, but he was added to the injury report and listed as questionable.

Tuman and rookie Heath Miller are the only tight ends on the 53-man roster, so the team would have to add another tight end if Tuman is unable to play against the Browns.

Matt Kranchick, who began the regular season on the active roster, could be signed from the practice squad. Kranchick, though, is more of a pass-catching tight end. The Steelers like to use a lot of two-tight end formations in the running game and prefer to have a blocking tight end to pair with Miller.

Farrior remains doubtful

Inside linebacker James Farrior (knee/doubtful) did not practice for the second day and said he probably won't attempt to practice this week, an indication he likely won't play against the Browns.

Farrior, though, said his injury -- he has a sprained medial collateral knee ligament -- is feeling better and a decision on his status could be made in pregame warmups.

"When you're down, you try to get back as fast as you can," Farrior said. "I have that mentality. I want to get back out with the guys. The sooner the better."

Also missing practice for the second day in a row were outside linebacker Joey Porter (knee/questionable) and fullback Dan Kreider (calf/probable).

He remembers it well

Veteran punter Chris Gardocki is soft spoken and easy going. But even Gardocki once got caught up in the emotion of a Browns-Steelers game, and the embarrassing episode occurred in front of Cowher, the coach who now employs him.

In a 2000 game in Cleveland Stadium, Gardocki, then the Browns' punter, became upset when he felt the Steelers -- Jason Gildon and Porter in particular -- were deliberately trying to injure him.

When Porter blocked him hard on a punt return, an angry Gardocki ran over near the Steelers' bench and, in full view of everyone, made an obscene gesture toward Cowher and the players.

Gardocki was fined by the NFL for the gesture.

"It happened once when they blew me up and it happened again the next play," Gardocki said, recalling the incident yesterday. "I was really mad. When they knocked me off the second time, everyone on our team was irritated. I never said anything. I just flipped everyone off."

Gardocki, though, said the incident was never brought up when he signed with the Steelers before the 2004 season. He said he and Cowher have never discussed it.

"When I first signed here, it was the only thing anyone [in the media] ever asked me," Gardocki said. "I was [angry]. I admit."

Quick hits

Former Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford was re-signed to the practice squad because of the injury to Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers also signed linebacker Richard Seigler to the practice squad and released wide receiver Chris Samp. A spot opened on the practice squad when linebacker Dedrick Roper was signed to Philadelphia's 53-man roster.