LATROBE — One of the intriguing questions before the Pittsburgh Steelers opened training camp was this: Who would replace Jerome Bettis as their short-yardage and goal-line specialist, the running back who gained a game's most important yardage?

The answer, apparently, is nobody. Or everybody.

Former starter Duce Staley or third-down back Verron Haynes appeared to be competing for the job, but coach Bill Cowher said Wednesday the Steelers probably won't have such a specialist this season. That means starter Willie Parker might get the ball frequently inside the 10-yard line, something that rarely happened last season.

"It's hard for me to say when we get into short yardage that we're going to make any kind of change," Cowher said. "If somebody starts to surface and becomes that guy, I wouldn't rule it out, but I can't say right now there's been one person like there was with Jerome. And I don't think that's a bad thing. That's the way it was last year. This year's a different year."

Staley is more of a power runner than Parker and looked to be a logical replacement for Bettis. But Staley has had an uneven training camp and has rushed for only 25 yards on 12 carries in two exhibition games.

The Steelers are rumored to be willing to trade Staley, though it seems unlikely they would go into the season with only Haynes as a backup to Parker.

Staley opened the 2004 season as the starter, averaging 100-plus yards for seven games until getting hurt, yet was frequently pulled for Bettis in goal-line situations. Bettis kept that role last season when Parker started. Parker outrushed Bettis 1,202 yards to 368 yards and averaged 1.4 yards per carry more than Bettis did, but Bettis ran for nine touchdowns to Parker's four.

When camp opened last month, Parker said he wanted to prove he could handle the short-yardage situations.

"He's really shown, especially in this camp, that he's a strong inside runner," offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said. "

However, Haynes is expected to keep his job as the third-down specialist, a role he apparently won't give up just because the Steelers are in scoring range.

"Verron has proven to be a very, very good third-down back," said Cowher, who has praised Haynes frequently during camp. "I think with Willie being the starter and having those other two guys, I just think you can never have enough good running backs, particularly with the way we like to play the game."

Two starters won't play Friday night in Philadelphia, when most of the regulars figure to go longer than in any of the other exhibition games. Wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring) and cornerback Deshea Townsend (broken right thumb) will be held out, as will backup tight end Jerame Tuman (hamstring).

Ward practiced Monday and Tuesday, but cut short both workouts when the hamstring acted up. It now seems likely he may miss the entire preseason, though he is expected to be ready for the Sept. 7 opener against Miami.

"We're still encouraged by his progress, even though it's going slow. And that's the truth," Cowher said.

Townsend was injured during a pass coverage drill Tuesday, but said he will be ready for the opener. He will be replaced Friday by either Bryant McFadden or Ricardo Colclough.

McFadden has been pushing Townsend, yet Colclough moved ahead of him during practice Wednesday — a development that surprised McFadden, a second-round draft pick last year.

Colclough, a second-rounder in 2004, had up-and down camps in the past, Cowher said, but has sustained his play during this summer.

"I'm not ready to say that he's there," Cowher said. "But I do like the manner in which he's playing."

Most of the offensive and defensive starters are expected to play all or most of the first half Friday night, but none will go into the third quarter. There will be exceptions, with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Parker likely to get fewer snaps than most regulars.

Roethlisberger was yanked after one series during each of the first two preseason games, even though most of the offensive line starters played the first half in a 17-10 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.

"Some of it will be based on snaps and some of it will be assessed on quality of play, and we'll go from there," Cowher said.