NFL PLAYER NEWS

NFL Player Notes: Roethlisberger out after surgery

The Sports Xchange

October 18, 2016 at 5:01 pm.

Oct 16, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;  Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) attempts a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-15. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 16, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) attempts a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-15. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger officially was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday.

Backup Landry Jones will get the nod in place of Roethlisberger, who had surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee Monday. Tomlin did not speculate on the length of absence for the 34-year-old Roethlisberger, who sustained the injury on a play in which he was intercepted by safety Reshad Jones during Sunday’s 30-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Jones was on the field for a full series in place of Roethlisberger, who returned to play the entire second half and finished 19 of 34 for 189 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Pittsburgh (4-2) will have a bye week after Sunday’s game versus New England (5-1), which would essentially give Roethlisberger 16 days between the injury and his next likely practice on Nov. 3.

Pittsburgh will also be without defensive end Cam Heyward, who will miss his second straight game due to a hamstring injury.

–The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed wide receiver Vincent Jackson on injured reserve after an MRI exam revealed an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament, the team announced.

Jackson, who made three catches for 36 yards while playing the entire game during the Buccaneers’ 17-14 victory against the Carolina Panthers on October 10, was evaluated following the game after complaining of discomfort in the knee.

Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has 15 receptions for 173 yards for the season. Last season, he played 10 games, including nine starts, and had 33 receptions for 543 yards and three scores.

–New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker underwent hip surgery, the first of two major procedures the 29-year-old is facing.

Decker’s recovery time for the hip surgery will be approximately six months, according to the Jets.

Decker will also require surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Decker was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 12 due to the shoulder ailment. The Jets said the determination that hip surgery was necessary came on that same day.

Decker won’t undergo the shoulder surgery until he is off crutches, according to the team. It is estimated Decker will require about eight months to heal from the shoulder operation.

–Cleveland Browns safety Jordan Poyer was placed on injured reserve, two days removed from sustaining a lacerated kidney against the Tennessee Titans.

Also, Browns left guard Joel Bitonio underwent foot surgery and is expected to be recovered in time to participate in offseason workouts with Cleveland.

The Browns are also unsure when quarterback Josh McCown will return from collarbone injury. He was not medically cleared to play last week. Meanwhile quarterback Robert Griffin III continues to rehab his injured left shoulder and it appears he may not need surgery.

–To deal with injuries at running back, the Green Bay Packers traded for Kansas City Chiefs backup Knile Davis. The Chiefs will receive a conditional later-round draft choice, based upon Davis’ playing time.

Davis, 25, has only one carry this season with Spencer Ware emerging as the top sub for Jamaal Charles. A third-round pick in 2013, Davis averages 3.3 yards per carry with 11 touchdowns on 223 career attempts.

The Packers were down to one running back Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys and Eddie Lacy played with an injured left ankle. Lacy did not practice on Tuesday due to ankle soreness and could miss Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

–Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak envisions rookie running back Devontae Booker as the spark that could ignite his team’s sputtering ground game.

A fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, Booker rushed five times for 46 yards and had two receptions in Denver’s 21-13 loss to the AFC West-rival San Diego Chargers on Thursday. The 24-year-old has 161 yards on 34 carries for the season.

C.J. Anderson has been held under 50 yards in each of his last four games, amassing just 164 on 54 carries during that span.

–The Steelers signed offensive tackle Brian Mihalik to the active roster from the Detroit Lions’ practice squad and signed cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz to the practice squad.

Offensive lineman Matt Feiler was released to make room for Mihalik.

Detroit signed linebacker Brandon Chubb to the team’s practice squad to fill its opening.

–Tight end Chase Coffman re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts.

Dwayne Allen could miss time with an ankle injury suffered Sunday night at Houston and Coffman, who was in training camp with the Colts, is familiar with the system. Jack Doyle and Erik Swoope are listed behind Allen on the current depth chart at tight end.

–The Minnesota Vikings signed rookie cornerback Tre Roberson to the practice squad.

Roberson is in his first season as a cornerback after being a college quarterback at Illinois State. Roberson takes the roster spot of guard Isame Faciane, who was released on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Faciane was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving last week and did not practice on Monday.

–The San Francisco 49ers signed DeAndre Smelter to the team’s practice squad and released fellow wide receiver Dres Anderson.

Smelter was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft and spent his entire rookie season on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list.

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA