PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger has an unexpected homework assignment during the Steelers’ bye week: protecting a fractured right thumb.
Roethlisberger injured the thumb on his throwing hand sometime during Pittsburgh’s 24-17 victory over the Bengals on Sunday. He’s not sure when it happened, only that he noticed it while coming out for the second half.
“It was hard to determine it on the sideline, but we did all the tests (Monday) and it’s fractured in there,” Roethlisberger said.
Roethlisberger didn’t miss a snap as the Steelers improved to 7-3. He completed 7-of-11 passes for 70 yards in the second half, including a perfect 4-for-4 during the game-winning drive in the third quarter.
“It hurt, but (Steelers head trainer) John Norwig did a great job taping it up, making a quick splint out of tape and going with it,” Roethlisberger said. “Squeezing the ball is the hardest part. But it’s a good thing that I had a glove on it because that helps gripping it a little bit.”
Roethlisberger will continue to play with a splint. Pittsburgh plays at Kansas City on Nov. 27.
Schaub not ready to quit
HOUSTON — Texans quarterback Matt Schaub said he hopes he can return this season from a foot injury, though he’s less than optimistic.
Schaub, who injured a Lisfranc joint in his right foot during Sunday’s 37-9 victory over the Buccaneers, said he will meet with more doctors over the next week to gather as much information as possible.
“I’m not one to give in to something like this that easily,” Schaub said. “It doesn’t look good. My foot is pretty much the size of a cinder block right now.”
The Texans have a bye this week. Matt Leinart will start their next game, at Jacksonville on Nov. 27.
Star receiver Andre Johnson is expected to return for the Jacksonville game after sitting out six weeks with a right hamstring injury.
Cruz unharmed in shooting
NEW YORK — Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz was celebrating his 25th birthday at a Manhattan club early Tuesday morning when gunshots were fired, killing one man and injuring two other people.
Other NFL and NBA players were at the Juliet Supper Club, according to police reports, but it is not known if any of Cruz’s teammates were present.
A 43-year-old man was shot once in the chest and once in the back and later died. Another man and a woman also were hit by bullets. No arrests have been made.
The incident naturally evoked memories of a former Giants receiver involved in a shooting in a Manhattan club. In November 2008, Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg with an unlicensed gun while at the Latin Quarter with teammates Antonio Pierce and Ahmad Bradshaw. That led to him being released by the Giants and serving nearly two years in jail before signing to play with the Jets this summer.
Footnotes.
Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield is scheduled to undergo surgery this week for a season-ending clavicle injury.
• The Seahawks placed rookie guard John Moffitt (knee) on injured reserve and signed lineman Paul Fanaika to the active roster.
• The Redskins placed receiver Leonard Hankerson (hip) and defensive end Kedric Golston (knee) on injured reserve and re-signed receiver Donte’ Stallworth and defensive end Darrion Scott.
• The Jaguars signed cornerback Ashton Youboty and defensive end George Selvie.
