The Steelers have released running back Najeh Davenport.  Davenport played in 4 games for the Steelers this season and he carried the ball 2 times for 5 yards (2.5 ypc).  He also returned 10 kickoffs for 217 yards (21.7 avg).  Look for Davenport to have little trouble hooking on with another team soon with teams like the Broncos needing help pronto due to injuries.

The Steelers could be without tailback Willie Parker as it has been rumored that he has a torn labrum that will require surgery at the end of the year.  He is out indefinately.  Parker has played in 4 games for the Steelers this season and he has carried the ball 87 times for 333 yards (3.8 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  Mewelde Moore will continue as the Steelers’ feature back until Parker is ready to return to action.  Moore has played in 8 games for the Steelers this season and he has carried the ball 69 times for 320 yards (4.6 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He has also caught 16 passes for 123 yards (7.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Moore has done a good job for the Steelers and look for that to continue until Willie Parker is ready to return to action.

The Steelers might be without starting TE Heath Miller for a while as he has a bum ankle.  Miller has played in 8 games for the Steelers this season and he has caught 21 passes for 240 yards (11.4 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Miller is a very underrated player who should be one of the best TEs in the NFL, but, the Steelers just don’t throw the ball enough to him.  Matt Spaeth will take over as the starter until Miller is ready to return to action.  He has played in 8 games this season and he has caught  3 passes for 18 yards (6.0 avg).  Spaeth is a good blocker but he’s not much of a receiver so the Steelers’ passing game could suffer some until Miller is ready to return.

The Steelers have decided to sign Paul Ernster and they have released Mitch Berger to make room for him.  The 26-year old Ernster has played in 19 games in his NFL career and he has punted the ball 92 times for 3,772 yards (41.0 avg).  He has also placed 26 punts inside the opposing 20 yard line and he has 7 touchbacks in his career.  Berger punted the football 42 times for the Steelers this season for 1,760 yards (41.9 avg).  He placed 14 punts inside the opposing 20-yard line and he had 2 touchbacks.  The problem with Berger is that he was a tad gimpy with a hamstring issue and the Steelers couldn’t afford to keep him starting.

The Steelers have to be upset with WR Santonio Holmes who they suspended for tomorrow’s game with the Giants due to his arrest on marijuana possession.  Holmes has caught 22 passes for 360 yards (16.4 avg) with a TD grab so far this season and the Steelers will miss his ability to stretch the defense.  Nate Washington will replace him in the starting lineup and he should do a decent job for the Steelers against the Giants.  He has caught 15 passes for 225 yards (15.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs so far this season.  Rookie Limas Sweed (1 rec, 11 yards) or Dallas Baker (0 catches) will have to step up and be the #3 WR for the Steelers this week replacing Washington.  Hopefully Santonio Holmes learned his lesson and won’t be so stupid and selfish in the future.