PITTSBURGH — The Steelers’ main injury worry after their 15-6 loss Sunday in Philadelphia was the punishment quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took while being sacked eight times. He played with a slight shoulder separation, and a right hand injury sidelined him late in the fourth quarter.
When coach Mike Tomlin revealed his updated injury list Tuesday, Roethlisberger wasn’t on it, but Willie Parker unexpectedly was — the Pro Bowl running back has a sprained left knee that will keep him out of Monday night’s game against the Ravens.
Both the offense and defense will be missing key players.
Four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Casey Hampton (groin) also won’t play and defensive end Brett Keisel (calf) will miss a second successive game. Chris Hoke, who made 10 starts in 2004, replaces Hampton.
Tomlin wouldn’t discuss the specifics of Parker’s injury or whether he might also miss the Oct. 5 game at Jacksonville, although that seems likely. With Parker out, first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall will make his first NFL start. Mendenhall has 28 yards in 10 carries during limited playing time.
Green replaces Bulger as Rams starter
ST. LOUIS — Marc Bulger is out as the Rams starting quarterback after throwing only two touchdown passes in three games and will be replaced by 38-year-old Trent Green for Sunday’s game against the Bills.
Favre expected to play Sunday
NEW YORK — Jets quarterback Brett Favre, who rolled his left ankle during the third quarter of Monday night’s 48-29 loss at San Diego, is expected to start Sunday against Arizona.
The nature of the injury wasn’t immediately known, but Favre said after the game that X-rays came out OK — meaning there was no break. He has started an NFL-record 256 consecutive regular-season games.
Footnotes.
Six retired NFL players, including former CU linebacker Ted Johnson, are among a dozen athletes who agreed to donate their brains to study the long-term effects of concussions, The New York Times reported.
“I’m not trying to reach up from the grave and get the NFL,” Johnson said. “But any doctor who doesn’t connect concussions with long- term effects should be ashamed of themselves.”
• Saints guard Jamar Nesbit has been suspended without pay for the next four games for violating the NFL’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.
• 49ers cornerback Shawntae Spencer will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his left knee. Tarell Brown and Donald Strickland will compete to replace Spencer.
• Former Vikings linebacker Wally Hilgenberg died in Lakeville, Minn., after a battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 66.
Denver Post wire services
