Cowboys won’t have Barber

Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber did not make the team’s trip to Pittsburgh for today’s game against the Steelers, meaning rookie Tashard Choice will make his first NFL start.

Barber dislocated his right little toe in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving and did not practice all week. Choice, from Georgia Tech, replaced him against Seattle and rushed for a career-high 57 yards on 11 carries, giving him 147 yards on 30 carries this season.

Dallas (8-4) was already without backup running back Felix Jones because of a season-ending torn ligament in his left big toe – an injury that occurred while he was rehabilitating a left hamstring injury.

Losing the 225-pound Barber is a major setback for the Cowboys, who may need to win at least three of their final four games to reach the playoffs. The Steelers (9-3) lead the NFL in rushing defense with a per-game average of 71.2 yards per game, the lowest by any team since the 1970 NFL merger, and have not allowed an opposing back to gain even 80 yards.

•Suspended duo back with Saints: Running back Deuce McAllister and defensive end Will Smith rejoined the New Orleans Saints, a day after a federal judge blocked their four-game suspensions under the NFL’s anti-doping policy.

The players were suspended after testing positive for the diuretic Bumetanide, which is banned because it can be used as a masking agent for steroids. The players have argued they never used steroids and that the StarCaps diet pills they used to keep their weight down did not list the banned substance as an ingredient.

•Bills make roster moves: The Buffalo Bills placed rookie defensive end Chris Ellis on season-ending injured reserve because of an ankle injury.

Buffalo activated defensive lineman Corey Mace from the practice squad to take Ellis’ place.

•Panthers’ owner ails: Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has been readmitted to the hospital, a month after surgery to implant a pacemaker.

The hospital said the pacemaker is working fine, but doctors planned further tests to determine why Richardson, 72, is feeling ill.