Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Bill Cowher is anxious to see Duce Staley play with the first team offense today against the Vikings. Click photo for larger image.

Steelers coach Bill Cowher is anxious to watch veteran running back Duce Staley work with the first-team offense tonight in the preseason home opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Staley only played in five games last season because of a crowded backfield that included Jerome Bettis, whom Staley wanted to see ride off into the sunset.

Staley, 31, had been the starting running back in 2004, the year he signed as a free agent. But he was injured midway through the season and only played in three of the final nine games because of a hamstring injury.

Willie Parker is the unquestioned starter this season, but Staley is vying for the backup job and third-down role against fellow veteran Verron Haynes. Cowher said he has been pleased with Staley's play through the preseason.

"He's looked good," Cowher said. "We gave him off [Wednesday]. There was a little wear and tear on his body. I think you have to do that with players who are at that age and at that point in their careers. I just think he needs to play and to be able to get back into the running shape and get the feel for the running game. We have to give him a chance to run behind a good offensive line just to get a sense of where he is."

Cowher said Parker will play "a short period of time" with Staley coming in to relieve him. Cowher also added that Haynes is having an "excellent" camp.

Morey on the mend

Special teams ace/receiver Sean Morey is questionable for the game with what is being termed a bone contusion on his left thumb. He practiced with a soft cast Thursday and said he could play tonight.

"I've played with a cast on before," Morey said. "In some ways, I think it helps your game, you're forced to concentrate more. I'll probably play with it for a couple of weeks. They can't rule out that it's a stress fracture. They say it's just a severe bone contusion. If that's the case, I can play with a cast on as long as I can tolerate the pain."

Morey has made the Steelers the past two seasons because of his standout special teams play and was the special teams' co-captain last season.

Morey could be in a battle to make the team this season because of the number of highly regarded receivers on the roster.

Porter to play

Linebacker Joey Porter likely will see his first playing time of the preseason, but he won't be out there long. Porter, recovering from a knee injury, has been participating in team drills for less than a week.

"It's hard to say," Cowher said of Porter's playing time. "We'll see how he feels. We'll give him a couple of snaps to get him acclimated to the speed. We'll go from there."

McMahon vies for backup job

North Allegheny High School graduate Mike McMahon is trying to win the backup quarterback job with the Vikings behind Brad Johnson. McMahon, who played last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, has been passed on the depth chart by rookie Tavaris Jackson, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Jackson will enter the game before McMahon.

Team Turmoil

The Vikings enter their second preseason game in a bit of disarray. Their first-round draft pick, linebacker Chad Greenway, was placed on injured reserve and is done for the season after a knee injury in Minnesota's 16-13 loss Monday night to the Oakland Raiders. The next day, veteran receiver Koren Robinson led police on a 15-mile chase. He has been given an indefinite leave of absence from the team.