NFL Notes

STEELERS

QB has surgery

PITTSBURGH — The cartilage in Ben Roethlisberger’s aching left knee is repaired.

And while the Pittsburgh Steelers are optimistic their franchise quarterback will return sooner rather than later after tweaking the knee in the second quarter of a miserable loss in Miami on Sunday, the odds of Roethlisberger being ready for a visit from Tom Brady and the New England Patriots six days removed from the operating table is remote.

Roethlisberger rested at home Monday after undergoing arthroscopic surgery and Pittsburgh Coach Mike Tomlin said the team is confident Roethlisberger won’t be out “long term.”

But Roethlisberger’s teammates began rallying around their backup now facing the most daunting task of his uneven career.

Your turn, Landry Jones. Again.

“I’m going to prepare like I’ve done in the past and we’ll see what happens,” Jones said.

Any chance Pittsburgh (4-2) has of hanging in there against the surging Patriots (5-1) depends on it. Taken in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, the former Oklahoma star has made two career starts, both last season.

The Steelers went 1-1 in those games, though the victory comes with an asterisk because he left early with an ankle injury and Roethlisberger came on to guide a blowout of Cleveland.

Jones has taken just a handful of snaps this season and threw one incompletion while briefly spelling Roethlisberger in Miami.

He’s completed 32 of 56 passes for 513 yards with 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 11 appearances and played extensively with the first team during a preseason in which Roethlisberger made just a token appearance.

BROWNS

Poyer still hospitalized

BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns starting safety Jordan Poyer could be lost for the season after sustaining a lacerated kidney Sunday.

Poyer remains hospitalized in Nashville, Tenn., with the serious injury, which came after he was blindsided on a vicious hit in the second quarter by Tennessee Titans running back Antonio Andrews, who was flagged for a personal foul. Browns Coach Hue Jackson said he had several text messages with Poyer, 25, on Monday and that he is in good spirits. Jackson said he does not know if Poyer will play again this season.

“He took a major hit,” Jackson said. “Obviously that’s going to take some time for him to heal from. I think obviously a kidney is a serious thing. I hope we can [get him back], but if we don’t I do understand that too because that’s something that’s very serious.”

Poyer was down for several minutes after he was drilled by Andrew while covering a punt.

Before halftime, he was transported to Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital for observation. Jackson said the team is hoping he will be discharged soon. Jackson does not know if Poyer also has a concussion.

BRONCOS

Kubiak returns

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos Coach Gary Kubiak is back at work after taking a week off under doctor’s orders.

The 55-year-old coach suffered a complex migraine following Denver’s 23-16 loss to Atlanta on Oct. 9. He spent a night in the hospital after being taken from the stadium via ambulance when he suffered extreme fatigue.

Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was named interim head coach during Kubiak’s absence and was in charge when the Broncos (4-2) lost 21-13 at San Diego on Thursday night.

Kubiak also had a health scare in 2013 when he suffered a mini-stroke at halftime of a game against the Colts when he was head coach of the Houston Texans.

DOLPHINS

Sims sidelined

DAVIE, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins could be forced to play Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills without the team’s top two tight ends.

Jordan Cameron, the team’s starter, has missed the past three games because of a concussion he suffered in Miami’s 30-24 overtime victory over the Cleveland Browns. Dion Sims, his primary backup, suffered a concussion in Sunday’s 30-15 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sims is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol program, which means he must pass five stages of testing before he’ll be allowed to play in a game. Sims also suffered a concussion last year in Miami’s season opener, and it took him a month to get cleared to play.

Cameron, who has suffered four concussions since joining the NFL in 2011, has spent the past four weeks trying to exit the league’s concussion protocol program, but hasn’t been cleared to practice with the team.

Coach Adam Gase said the Dolphins haven’t considered placing Cameron on injured reserve.

If Cameron and Sims are out for Sunday’s game, MarQueis Gray, who caught three passes for 81 yards against the Steelers, would serve as Miami’s starter.

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