LITTLE ROCK — STEELERS Roethlisberger out Sunday
PITTSBURGH - Right arm tucked into a black sling, weary eyes betraying a decided lack of sleep, Ben Roethlisberger tried to stay positive after the worst - and by far the most harrowing - injury of his career.
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback believes he can return this season despite spraining his right shoulder and suffering what he called a dislocated rib in Monday night’s overtime victory against Kansas City.
He’s just not sure when he’ll be ready. And his medical team appears nowhere close to figuring out how exactly to get him there.
“From what [the doctor] said he’s trying to talk to experts because there is no case study over the exact same thing,” Roethlisberger said Wednesday. “We’re just trying to talk to people ... because we don’t know.”
All Roethlisberger knows for certain is that doctors are concerned the rib - which he injured while getting sacked by two Kansas City linebackers in the third quarter on Monday - could puncture his aorta if jostledaround.
He also knows he’ll be a spectator indefinitely while the surging Steelers (6-3) try to track down AFC North-leading Baltimore (7-2). The rivals meet twice over the next three weeks, with the first showdown coming Sunday night at Heinz Field. Veteran backup Byron Leftwich will take the snaps in Roethlisberger’s place, looking for his first victory as a starter in six years.
The Steelers have been forced to play with Roethlisberger occasionally over the last nine seasons, going 8-5 without their franchise cornerstone since 2004. Four of those losses, however, have come against the Ravens.
Still, Roethlisberger remains optimistic he’ll be back to work at some point over the next seven weeks. Asked if he thinks the injury is season-ending, the two-time Super Bowl winner shrugged his one good shoulder and attempted to remain upbeat.
Roethlisberger was stepping up in the pocket trying to extend a third-down play when Kansas City linebacker Justin Houston wrapped up his legs and teammate Tamba Hali drove all of his 265 pounds into Roethlisberger’s chest and slammed him to the turf. The quarterback’s right arm dug into his side at the moment of impact, dislocating the rib and sending a jagged edge perilously close to the aorta.
Leftwich, a former first-round pick, hasn’t started a game in three years and hasn’t won one since 2006. He went 7 of 14 for 73 yards in relief against the Chiefs, leading Pittsburgh to a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
COWBOYS
Murray could return
IRVING, Texas - Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray said there’s “a chance” he could return Sunday against the Cleveland Browns after missing four games with a sprained right foot.
Murray has been out since rushing for 93 yards in a loss at Baltimore. He had 90 yards in the first half butsustained the injury in the second quarter. He had just one carry in the third quarter before coming out for good.
The second-year pro returned to practice for limited work last week and joined his teammates in shorts and helmets at Wednesday’s practice.
Murray rushed for 897 yards in 13 games as a rookie last year before breaking his right ankle. He had a club-record 253 yards in his first career start.
TEXANS LB Dobbins fined
HOUSTON - Houston Texans linebacker Tim Dobbins has been fined $30,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit that gave Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler a concussion.
The hit came in the second quarter of Houston’s 13-6 victory Sunday night when Dobbins hit a scrambling Cutler after he threw a pass.
Cutler was past the line of scrimmage and called for an illegal forward pass on the play, and Dobbins was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Cutler remained in the game for the rest of that series and threw an interception. He started experiencing symptoms at halftime and did not return.
BILLS
Kelsay to miss game
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Buffalo Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay will miss his second consecutive game with a neck injury after being ruled out by the team from playing against the Miami Dolphins tonight.
Kelsay did not practice Wednesday and has been out since getting hurt during practice last week. The team has not revealed the exact nature of the injury.
Coach Chan Gailey had given Kelsay a 50-50 chance of playing earlier this week.
Also ruled out by the Bills were running back Fred Jackson (concussion), defensive end Mark Anderson (left knee), cornerback Aaron Williams (right knee).
The Bills (3-6) have lost five of six. The Dolphins (4-5) travel to Orchard Park having lost two consecutive.
Sports, Pages 25 on 11/15/2012