Elsewhere around the NFL:

Pittsburg: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (concussion) is out for Sunday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. FOX’s Jay Glazer reported that Big Ben was suffering from exercise-induced headaches and the team decided to hold him out. Dennis Dixon, a 2008 fifth-round pick out of Oregon, will get the start because normal No. 2 QB Charlie Batch (wrist) is also out.

Pittsburg: RB Willie Parker is listed as probable for week 12 with a hip injury. He’s nothing more than Rashard Mendenhall’s backup at this point.

New Orleans: Saints WR Lance Moore sat out New Orleans Saints practice Friday and is likely to miss his fourth straight game this weekend.

Minnesota: Vikings WR Bernard Berrian was back at full practice for the Vikings on Friday. Berrian is listed as probable with a hamstring injury, but he should start against the Bears this weekend.

Atlanta: Falcons RB Michael Turner (ankle) is expected to play Sunday, sources tell NFL.com’s Steve Wyche. Wyche is a reliable source as he used to cover the Atlanta Falcons for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Turner will still test his ankle sprain in warmups, but Wyche says there were enough positive signs in practice that the Falcons consider him probable to play.

Indianapolis: Dwight Freeney (abdomen) did not travel to Houston and will not play against the Texans.
It’s a little surprising because Freeney has been playing hurt for awhile now and the Colts never seemed too concerned about this injury. Freeney, who is currently No. 4 in the NFL with 9 1/2 sacks, will be missed when the Colts try to slow down Houston’s high powered offense on Sunday.

Carolina: Panthers WR Steve Smith was added to the injury report Saturday as “questionable” due to a rib injury. This is the first we’ve heard of any problems with Smith and anytime a player is added to the injury report on Saturday it’s a concern.

New England: Patriots RB Sammy Morris was limited in Patriots practice Friday. He’ll be a game-time decision for Monday night against the Saints with a knee injury. With as well as Laurence Maroney is running the ball these days, Morris is nothing more than a handcuff at this point.

Both players Simmons and Mendenhall have been put on the IR and will be lost for the rest of the year.  With Willie Parker already on the sideline for an extended period of time, the Steelers might have the worst running back situation in the NFL with their top two backs on the shelf.  There are running back free agents out their like Shawn Alexander, but the pickings are very slim.  The Steelers will be starting running back Mewelde Moore- who the Steelers signed as a free agent during the summer.  This year Big Ben Roethlisberger’s arm will be counted on more than ever for a team that has been known forever as a running team.  Which why the the loss of Kendall Simmons will be even more devastating to an offensive line that has played mediocre to say the least.  Whoever Pittsburgh picks to replace Simmons won’t matter if the offensive line as a whole doesn’t step up and play better than they have.  Their franchise quarterback Big Ben already has 3 nagging injuries that he is going to have to play with for the rest of the season-including his throwing hand.  If this offensive line continues to struggle, then the Steelers will have to air it out a lot often then they have in the past or more than Coach Mike Tomlin would like to.   The teams wide receivers and tight ends will have to get ready to become a whole lot more integral to the overall offensive scheme.  Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will earn his paycheck as he will be forced to make huge adjustments to the offensive play calling and might have to make numerous changes to the play book.

There will be tremendous pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense because they are the current strength of the team, and will be asked to do more than the already outstanding performance that they have displayed during their first four games.  The biggest key for the defense is to stay healthy, especially to keep superstar safety Troy Polamalu.  Polamalu has had injury problems in the past and he is the one player the Steelers can least afford to lose on defense.  The defensive line has been hit hard already by a couple of injuries including run stopper Casy Hampton.

Every team in the NFL has to deal with injuries, so you won’t hear anyone crying for the Steelers-especially the New England Patriots.

Coach Tomlin decided on a solution to the problem:  Rashard Mendenhall.  The 23rd overall draft pick by the Steelers out of the University of Illinois, was brought in to serve as a potent one two puch along with Parker.  The fact that the Steelers were able to pick up Rashard so late in the draft was a steal in itself.  Most boards had Mendenhall as the number 2 overall running back behind the two time runner-up for the  Heisman trophy and Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden. Mendenhall is a powerful back who is very strong and extremely fast for his size.  Mendenhal is built like a fullback, but when you see him with the football you realize that he is every bit of a running back.  Mendenhall put up outstanding numbers as a junior at Illinois against Big 10 competition.  And then there was his phenomenal game against USC in the Rose Bowl.

Well now Rashard Mendenhall has to step up earlier that Coach Tomlin would have liked.  Willie Parker is out for the Steelers monumental divisional game with their hated rival the Baltimore Ravens.  Just like it is going to be rough for a rookie quarterback like Joe Flacco to start against a defense like the Pittsburgh Steelers; it is going to be equally tough if not tougher for a rookie running back like Mendenhall to start against the famed Ravens defense.  Ray Lewis and crew will be licking their chops to get a chance to put a statement hit on the rookie running back.  While Mendenhall has everything that a coach would want physically in a running back, he has to make improvements in his mental aspects of the NFL game.  While playing in the preseason games for the Steelers, Mendenhall displayed problems with holding on to the ball.  To say the least, this is something that he has to correct asap before his battle with the Ravens defense on Monday night.

Rashard Mendenhall is the future for the Pittsburgh Steelers at running back, even though don’t count out fast Willie Parker anytime soon.  For Mendenhall and the Steelers the future is now.  It is up to Mendenhall to prove to Coach Tomlin, the Pittsburgh organization, and his Steeler teamates that he was the correct choice for the storied NFL franchise.  For a true competitor, their is no better defense to take up the challenge against than the Ravens.  Their is no stage greater for a NFL rookie than Monday Night Football.  Run Rashard Run.