Who would be a running back?

Even in a pass-happy NFL, a plethora of running backs went down with injury last week, which leads Mike Tierney to wonder if any will be left standing to help out the abundance of replacement quarterbacks taking snaps after Week 8.



For replacement quarterbacks, last weekend was a forgettable one. For established running backs, it was a hazardous one.

Six quarterbacks started their first games of the season. The only winner was Tim Tebow, and he vacillated between do-nothing and wretched until the final five minutes of regulation time.

Oakland had two tries. First-timer Kyle Boller was substituted in the second half with Carson Palmer, on only his sixth day as a Raider. Their telling statistics were identical: three interceptions, no points.

The best of the lot was Christian Ponder, the Vikings rookie, though his numbers (13-for-32, two interceptions) hardly show it. He displayed poise against the unbeaten Packers and validated the benching of Donovan McNabb.

Ponder also had the reliable Adrian Peterson from start to finish. Other tailbacks were less fortunate. Tim Hightower (Redskins), Earnest Graham (Bucs), Darren McFadden (Raiders), Willis Magahee (Broncos) and Mark Ingram (Saints) and Beanie Wells (Cardinals) went down and out of the game - for good. The severity of their ailments varying.

Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks) and Peyton Hillis (Browns) did not even make the opening kick off.

Even in the pass-happy NFL, running backs seem as injury-prone as ever. But as long as coaches keep tapping young or rusty quarterbacks to start, ball carriers might hear their numbers called more often as play-calling takes a cautious turn.
  
Punt snapper or placekick holder, anyone?