Staley’s Steelers Status in Doubt

Duce Staley’s run with the Pittsburgh Steelers could be coming to an end after the team’s trade for Patrick Cobbs, an undrafted rookie free-agent running back who led the New England Patriots in rushing during the exhibition season.

The Steelers have been seeking another running back as former starter Staley struggled in training camp after sitting out all but a handful of games last season after knee surgery.

The 5-foot-8, 210-pound Cobbs was a surprise for the Patriots this summer, rushing for 188 yards in 38 carries while averaging 4.9 yards a carry. He had a 92-yard game against the Redskins in a 41-0 Patriots victory, though he was playing against backups.

Adding Cobbs could mean that neither Staley nor seventh-round draft choice Cedric Humes of Virginia Tech will make the Steelers’ 53-man roster, which must be determined by today’s NFL deadline.

Cobbs, who was acquired for a conditional 2007 draft pick, is a power runner much like Staley, and it seems unlikely the Steelers would keep both backs -- plus third-down specialist Verron Haynes -- behind starter Willie Parker. Parker signed a $13.6-million, four-year contract extension Thursday.

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Antowain Smith played well in Houston’s last exhibition game, but in the end the Texans chose youth over experience when they cut the 34-year-old running back.

Coach Gary Kubiak said releasing Smith was a tough decision, but the coach said rookie Chris Taylor could be more valuable.

Starter Domanick Davis has been out for more than a month because of a bone bruise on his left knee and will probably be put on injured reserve.

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Adam Vinatieri has a sprained ligament and a bone chip in his nonkicking leg, but the Indianapolis Colts hope he’ll be ready for the season opener.

Vinatieri, the Colts’ biggest off-season acquisition, has not practiced or played since hurting the left ankle while running Aug. 14.

Dave Porter, the team foot specialist, said the sprained ligament is of greater concern. The Colts initially announced that the injury was a sprained ankle and did not mention the bone chip.

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Rookie quarterback Vince Young showed poise in his first start, consistently turning third downs into first downs in the Tennessee Titans’ 35-21 victory over the host Green Bay Packers. Young played the Titans’ first three series and returned for much of the third quarter of the two teams’ exhibition finale, completing eight of 17 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. He was five for six for four first-down conversions and a 16-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Wade in the first quarter.

Chris Henry caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer before the Cincinnati Bengals pulled their starters in a 20-3 victory over the host Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals (4-0) completed their first perfect exhibition season in franchise history. Their previous best was 5-0-1 in 1971.... Two days after being re-signed by Philadelphia, A.J. Feeley led the Eagles on three straight scoring drives, but his teammates couldn’t hold the lead in a 20-17 loss to the host New York Jets.... Michael Robinson, a quarterback at Penn State, is making a smooth transition to running back. He ran for two touchdowns in the second quarter to help the host San Francisco 49ers beat the San Diego Chargers, 23-14.

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Running back Stephen Davis signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Rams, who plan to use him as a backup to Steven Jackson. Davis, who played last season with Carolina, worked out for the Rams two weeks ago.... The Jets acquired defensive end Bobby Hamilton from the Oakland Raiders for an undisclosed draft pick. The 12-year veteran spent two years with the Raiders, recording 102 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and starting 28 games.