Staley may be no-go due to toe

The running back has a 50-50 chance of playing Sunday against Cleveland.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers running back Duce Staley missed practice Thursday with an infected right big toe and was downgraded from probable to questionable for Sunday's game against Cleveland.
Despite the setback, coach Bill Cowher said, "All indications are at this point that he should be ready to go by Sunday."
Staley missed practice Wednesday with fluid on the toe, and the infection was discovered after the fluid was drained. Staley was injured when someone stepped on his toe while he was running for 123 yards during a 28-17 win Sunday over Cincinnati.
Force on foot
Staley, signed away from Philadelphia during the off-season, has been a major upgrade to a Steelers' running game that was the league's second-worst during a 6-10 season a year ago.
The 5-foot-11, 242-pound Staley is coming off consecutive 100-yard games against Miami and Cincinnati -- not coincidentally, the Steelers' first back-to-back victories since they won three in a row at the end of the 2002 season.
Staley also had 91 yards in a season-opening 24-21 victory over the Raiders and, with 372 yards in four games, needs 91 yards to match the 463 yards he gained last season with Philadelphia.
With Staley providing plenty of balance to an offense that Cowher felt was overly reliant on the pass last season, the Steelers have rushed for 518 yards. They are averaging nearly 40 yards rushing per game more than they were after four games last season.
If he isn't ready to go Sunday, Staley would be replaced by either Jerome Bettis (18 carries for 22 yards) or Verron Haynes (17 carries for 85 yards).
Bettis, the No. 6 rusher in NFL history, has seen his carries and playing time drop considerably but has scored five touchdowns in short-yardage situations.
Opinion
"I would expect Duce back," Bettis said. "I know if I was in that situation, I'd do everything possible I could to get back. If not, we've got to keep going, but I think he'll be there."
If Staley isn't ready, Bettis said, "I'm fine. You don't forget how to run. If the opportunity comes, I'll take advantage of it."
Meanwhile, inside linebacker Kendrell Bell had surgery to install a piece of mesh in his herniated groin. Bell, who hasn't played this season, is expected to miss at least two more games.
Probable means a player has a 75 percent chance of playing. Questionable means he has a 50-50 chance of playing.
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