The Steelers escaped with a victory. The health of their franchise quarterback is another matter.
The Steelers edged the woeful Chiefs 16-13 in overtime last night in Pittsburgh, but lost Ben Roethlisberger for most of the second half — and perhaps a lot longer — with a right shoulder injury.
Roethlisberger left the game early in the third quarter after getting slammed to the turf by Kansas City linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston.
Coach Mike Tomlin wouldn’t speculate on the severity of Roethlisberger’s injury and his status for Sunday’s showdown with AFC North leader Baltimore is uncertain.
“I’m hoping it was nothing serious,’’ said Steelers left tackle Max Starks. “Honestly it didn’t seem like it.”
The Steelers (6-3) won their fourth straight anyway. Shaun Suisham kicked a 23-yard field goal 51 seconds into the extra period, one play after Lawrence Timmons intercepted Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and returned it to the 5.
Jamaal Charles ran for 100 yards and a score for the Chiefs (1-8), who have lost six straight.
Byron Leftwich, playing for the first time in two years, was rusty in relief of Roethlisberger. He completed 7 of 14 passes for 73 yards. The Chiefs had one touchdown called back due to a penalty and another overturned on replay.
BILLS: Running back Fred Jackson is out with a concussion, and there’s at least one teammate who’s unhappy with how Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes celebrated after delivering the blow.
“Yeah, he’ll get his,” backup running back Tashard Choice said yesterday. “I don’t like to see nobody get hurt, and then on top of that [Spikes] making fun of him while he’s on the ground.”
Choice was referring to how Spikes flexed his arm and then mouthed off at Jackson and several Bills players while the running back was down late in the fourth quarter of a 37-31 loss at New England.
Coach Chan Gailey said Jackson was diagnosed with a concussion and will not play Thursday, when the Bills host Miami (4-5).
BROWNS: Hoping to squelch a weekend report that he would be interested in coaching the Cowboys if Jason Garrett gets fired, team president Mike Holmgren, who may leave the Browns before this season ends, went out of his way yesterday to make it known he isn’t angling for any job.
Holmgren made an unscheduled appearance in the media room at Browns headquarters to deny he is pursuing a future with Dallas..
PANTHERS: Coach Ron Rivera announced special teams coordinator Brian Murphy was fired one day after Carolina surrendered a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown to Trindon Holliday in Sunday’s 36-14 loss to the Broncos. Assistant Richard Rodgers was promoted to replace Murphy.
Yesterday, however, the NFL said Holliday’s return should have been ruled a touchback, not a touchdown. Replays showed Holliday prematurely celebrating the TD by flipping the ball out of his hands before crossing the goal line, but replay official Bob Boylston confirmed the touchdown without a replay review.