Steelers Sign Miller To Compete Against Stark For Punting Duties

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed free agent Josh Miller, who was recently cut by the Seattle Seahawks.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Miller, a two-time all-CFL punter, was released when Seattle re-signed veteran Rick Tuten.

The Steelers were dissatisfied last season with Ron Stark, whose 40.1 average was the second-lowest of his 14-year career. He averaged only 35.4 yards on nine playoff punts until the Super Bowl, when he had a 44.8 average on four punts against Dallas.

Miller is expected to compete with Stark for the Steelers’ punting job in their final two exhibition games, beginning Saturday against Tampa Bay.

Another bruised Cowboy

Dallas tight end Eric Bjornson, formerly of the University of Washington, had been back on the practice field for less than an hour when he pulled up lame. Bjornson had returned to practice in full pads Wednesday after spending two weeks sidelined with a strained left hamstring. He limped off after reaggravating the injury.

Bjornson said he had hoped to play Monday night in the Cowboys’ pre-season game against the New England Patriots, and on Saturday, he had estimated his health at 90 percent. But the Cowboys took the cautious route, knowing that Bjornson was needed to play in place of injured starter Jay Novacek, and held out Bjornson.

“That’s a shame,” head coach Barry Switzer said. “We’re trying to get him ready to play. It doesn’t look like we can.”

Mickell scheduled to start

Unless the NFL tells him otherwise, New Orleans Saints coach Jim Mora intends to start Darren Mickell in the season opener at San Francisco even though the defensive end faces suspension for substance abuse.

“I’m going to count on him being there,” Mora said. “My goal is to get him into that starting lineup as quickly as possible, and get him ready to start against San Francisco.”

Mickell faces a four-game suspension if his appeal to the NFL for substance abuse violations is denied.

Around the league

New England defensive lineman Bruce Walker, injured just before camp while playing catch with a knife, was released by the team.

He was hit in the chest by a steak knife while tossing it with a friend in a supermarket parking lot. Walker was stitched up at a hospital and released.

New York defensive end Cedric Jones was not injured when he got poked in the eye on which he had surgery and returned to practice Wednesday.

Jones, the fifth player taken overall in last April’s draft, underwent a cornea transplant in December. On Tuesday, he was poked in his left eye by offensive tackle Jerry Reynolds.

Jones was examined by an eye specialist and is expected to play Saturday against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium.

Buffalo wide receiver Justin Armour, formerly of Stanford, will be sidelined 6-10 weeks after undergoing a second operation on his left foot.