Steeler Center’s Streak Appears Over

Dermontti Dawson didn’t practice Wednesday because of the first serious in-season injury of his 12-year career and the center may miss the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game Monday night against Atlanta.

Dawson couldn’t run and even his walk was much slower than normal, the result of a pulled hamstring sustained in the first quarter of Sunday’s 17-3 victory in Cincinnati.

Dawson did not rule himself out--he is listed as questionable--but backup Roger Duffy inadvertently suggested that Dawson’s streak of 170 consecutive starts might end.

“Maybe I can hold down the fort for a couple of weeks so we can get him back and healthy for a run at the end of the year,” said Duffy, who was given a game ball for his play in Cincinnati.

Since the Steelers have an off week following Monday’s game, they might prefer that Dawson sit out the Atlanta game and take two full weeks off before a Nov. 7 game at San Francisco.

“All I can do right now is rest it,” Dawson said. “It’s day to day. I keep getting treatment, and that’s all I can do.”

Dawson’s streak is the second-longest currently in the NFL and the third-longest in team history. Dawson, voted all-pro the last five years, has started every game since succeeding Hall of Famer Mike Webster late in his own rookie season in 1988.

The only streaks longer in Steeler history were by Dawson’s predecessors, Ray Mansfield (182 games) and Webster (177).

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Erik Kramer, who has led the San Diego Chargers to three consecutive victories and the AFC West lead despite throwing six interceptions and only two touchdowns, will start at quarterback Sunday at home against the Green Bay Packers. . . . The Cleveland Browns cut former Heisman Trophy-winning running back Rashaam Salaam, one day after acquiring Karim Abdul-Jabbar from the Miami Dolphins. . . . Philadelphia defensive end Hugh Douglas underwent season-ending surgery in a New York hospital to repair a ruptured left bicep tendon and was placed on injured reserve.

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Brian Griese, who has led Denver to its first two victories of the season after an 0-4 start, was named Sunday’s starter against New England. . . . The Arizona Cardinals have moved first-round draft pick L.J. Shelton into the starting left tackle spot as part of the offensive line’s shuffling. With second-year player Anthony Clement at right tackle, the Cardinals have the youngest tackle tandem in the NFL. Both players are 23. . . . Three-time all-pro punter Matt Turk, who also is the Washington Redskins holder, may miss Sunday’s game at Dallas because of a broken finger, a development that sent the Redskins scrambling for an emergency punter and holder. . . . Tim Dwight will make his first NFL start for Atlanta Monday night.