With Rashard Mendenhall Sick, Willie Parker May Get Starting Job Back

Just at the time that Willie Parker seems ready to return to action from his turf toe injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers are dealing with another ailing running back.

Rashard Mendenhall was sent home on Thursday with an illness. Some of the Steelers beat reporters (like the Washington Observer-Reporter's Dale Lolley) believe that the illness shouldn't be much of a problem by Sunday, but the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Scott Brown questions how much he will be able to play against the Browns.

If nothing else, the illness may push back for at least a week any questions about how coach Mike Tomlin will split the carries between Mendenhall and Parker. Parker had been getting two-thirds of the snaps in the first two games of the season when both were available, but that was before Mendenhall produced two outstanding efforts against the Chargers and Lions.

The illness may give Tomlin a reason to give Parker the start this week while splitting carries closer to 50-50. If Mendenhall outplays him again this week, it helps set the stage for Mendenhall to take over the majority of carries in upcoming weeks.

But as mentioned here earlier this week, considering Mendenhall's ability to both break long runs and move the pile, plus the fact he's under contract beyond this year, the only thing standing between Mendenhall and the starting job long term is Mendenhall's own effort -- he was benched for the Bengals game because of a poor week of work in practice.