LATROBE, Pa. (AP) _ The Pittsburgh Steelers' injury toll has reached eight starters, with fullback Jon Witman the latest casualty.

	Jerome Bettis is just one of eight starters who are suffering from injuries.

Witman, who replaced Tim Lester as the Steelers' top blocking back, has had chronic back problems in recent years and woke up with back spasms Friday. He watched morning practice from the sideline and didn't hit the field at all for the afternoon session.

But if Steelers coach Bill Cowher is even the least bit concerned about the club's injury situation, he didn't show it at the end of the day.

"We have a few guys not out here working, that's for sure," Cowher said. "I think if we had to play this week that Dewayne Washington and Travis Davis could play. And I'm sure Wayne (Gandy) would play, but it isn't the middle of the season. So, you have to look at it accordingly."

The Steelers' starting lineup has been nearly cut in half, with center Dermontti Dawson, running back Jerome Bettis, Witman, offensive guard Brenden Stai, offensive tackle Wayne Gandy, cornerback Dewayne Washington, defensive end Nolan Harrison and free safety Davis relegated to watching from the sideline with various nagging injuries.

Richard Huntley, the backup to Bettis, has been getting repetitions at fullback, which could help his standing by the time the regular season begins. Orpheus Roye, expected to push Kevin Henry for a defensive end spot, has been playing well in place of Harrison. And rookie Scott Shields, the Steelers' No. 2 draft pick, has replaced Davis.

"I'm sure some young guys have to push through it," Cowher said about the difficulty of going through two-a-day practices.

"I'm sure that everybody's sore, but you have to recognize the difference between somebody being hurt _ which we'd never ask somebody to play hurt -- and working through the pain.

"Some young guys have to differentiate between the two, and some guys are fighting for positions," Cowher said. "The more you're not out there, the more you're giving somebody else the chance to seize a job."

Dawson appears to be better every day, while Stai, Washington, Davis and Gandy are likely to return next week. Harrison is a week away, while Bettis said he wanted to be back by the end of the month. Witman also was expected to return sometime next week.

Other injured players are rookie offensive tackle Kris Farris, rookie tight end Jerame Tuman and rookie linebacker Bobbie Cotten. Cotten could be back on the field next week.

The three are missing an important rookie scrimmage against Washington on Saturday in Frostburg, Md. Cowher believed that only selected starters would play, like Huntley and Shields, while Roye might get a rest with the other veterans.

Clearly, Cowher was in a better mood after Friday's practice sessions. He was displeased with the team's workout Thursday afternoon.

"It was much better," Cowher said. "We had two very good sessions. We get a chance to go against the Redskins (Saturday), and then they'll get Sunday off. But we responded very well. ... It was a good, crisp practice."

The scrimmage basically ends training camp because the Steelers go into a game-week mode beginning Monday. Their first preseason game is next Friday night against Chicago at Three Rivers Stadium.