Fullback Dan Kreider might have had more than just his season end when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee Monday night against the Miami Dolphins.

His career with the Steelers could be over, too, because he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Kreider, an undrafted free agent who has been the starting fullback since the middle of his rookie season in 2000, was placed on the injured reserve list yesterday, ending his season.

He was replaced on the 53-man roster by tight end Jon Dekker, an undrafted free agent from Princeton who has been on the practice squad each of the past two seasons.

The Steelers needed a third tight end after Jerame Tuman was placed on injured reserve last week.

The Steelers have only one fullback on the roster, Carey Davis, and cannot afford an injury at that position.

"I didn't have that planned, anyway," Davis said.