PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall got his first career start Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, but left early in the third quarter with a fractured left shoulder that will end his season.

Mendenhall was replacing Willie Parker, who missed the Steelers' 23-20 overtime victory with a knee sprain that will also keep him out of Sunday's game at Jacksonville.

"Injuries are part of the game, guys," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "I'm not going to come here and complain about it, and 'woe is me' on the injury front. They're as much a part of the game as blocking and tackling. You don't like it, but you deal with it."

Former Steelers running back Najeh Davenport was brought to Pittsburgh for a workout Tuesday morning. He told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that the Steelers plan to sign him later in the day.

In addition to Mendenhall and Parker, running back Carey Davis is suffering from a sprained knee that forced him to leave Monday night's game. Tomlin said it was too early to tell if Davis would be ready to play against Jacksonville.

Because of the injuries, Mewelde Moore is the Steelers' only healthy running back until Davenport can be signed.
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Tomlin said the Steelers are talking to more than one person about filling the team's current hole at running back. He said two backs could end up being signed, although he didn't specifically mention Davenport by name.

Davenport, 29, was cut during the offseason after the Steelers drafted Mendenhall and signed Moore as a free agent.

Gary Russell is another option at running back. He could be promoted off the practice squad.

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