PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger is expected to be the Steelers’ starter for the second straight week, though coach Mike Tomlin said his top three quarterbacks will play Sunday night against the Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High.
While Tomlin declined Friday to identify which quarterback would open the game, Roethlisberger got extensive work with the starters in practice all week. After Roethlisberger is pulled, Dennis Dixon will get his first significant playing time with the starters.
Dixon has started one NFL game, and he is expected to be Byron Leftwich’s backup when the season starts and Roethlisberger’s suspension begins.
Dixon has played and practiced well enough to earn time with the starters, Tomlin said.
“We’re looking forward to seeing him take advantage of that,” Tomlin said. “There’s a great scarcity with first-team snaps in the preseason. We’ve been very thoughtful and diligent about how we dole those out. We’ve given deference to the veteran players, and Byron Leftwich has taken advantage of his. Dennis has taken advantage of those snaps (he’s gotten) and is deserving of his opportunity.”
Starting defensive backs Bryant McFadden (pectoral muscle) and Ryan Clark (red blood cell condition) won’t play against the Broncos. Keenan Lewis will start at cornerback for McFadden, while Will Allen will replace Clark at safety.
Rams’ Avery could miss season
ST. LOUIS — Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery could miss the entire season after tearing a right knee ligament late in the first half of Thursday night’s 36-35 preseason victory over the Patriots. Avery led the Rams with 47 receptions last season.
Brackett’s X-rays negative
INDIANAPOLIS — Colts linebacker Gary Brackett is not expected to miss significant time after X-rays on his injured right hand were negative. Brackett was injured during Thursday night’s loss at Green Bay.
Chiefs rookie linebacker taken off field in cart
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs rookie linebacker Cameron Sheffield was immobilized and had to be taken away on a cart after a helmet-to-helmet tackle on Mike Bell left him motionless on the field during Kansas City’s 20-17 loss to the Eagles. The Chiefs said he had a neck injury and was being further evaluated.
“Right now I don’t have any information I feel comfortable in giving because again, there’s a lot of people out there that are family and friends of Cameron’s,” coach Todd Haley said. “I don’t want to say anything that ends up being wrong.”
Also, Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, who rushed for 1,120 yards last season, left the game with an apparent arm or shoulder injury.
Jones-Drew shelved for rest of preseason
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew is done for the preseason. Jones- Drew, who missed three days of practice this week, didn’t make the trip to Tampa, Fla., for tonight’s preseason game against the Buccaneers.
Jones-Drew’s agent, Adisa Bakari, said the Jaguars are resting the Pro Bowler the final two preseason games for “precautionary reasons.” He said Jones- Drew will be ready for the season opener.
Footnotes.
The Lions placed defensive end Jared DeVries (knee) on injured reserve, meaning he will miss a second consecutive season because of injury.
• Jets linebacker Calvin Pace injured his foot against the Redskins and could miss a few weeks.
