Steelers breath easier after MRI on Roethlisberger

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise sustained during a game-winning field goal drive at the end of a 24-22 victory over San Diego on Monday night, but hasn't been ruled out of Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

The injury isn't as severe as it initially appeared to be -- immediately after the game, coach Bill Cowher said "it looked bad."

"It's a deep sigh of relief," Cowher said Tuesday.

Roethlisberger, 16-1 as an NFL regular-season starter, was injured with 1:05 remaining when Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo's helmet collided with his left knee as Roethlisberger was completing a 9-yard pass to Antwaan Randle El.

Roethlisberger lay in pain on the turf for several minutes, clutching at his knee, before limping off the field. He was removed from the field on a cart, his knee heavily wrapped, after Jeff Reed kicked a 40-yard field goal with six seconds remaining, but he had no bandage on the knee when he got dressed shortly after that.

Roethlisberger had an MRI test shortly after the team returned to Pittsburgh on Tuesday morning.

Roethlisberger was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year last season after going 13-0 on a team that went a franchise-record 15-1 before ultimately losing to New England 41-27 in the AFC championship game. He was off to an excellent start this season, completing 52 of 86 passes for 913 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. His quarterback rating of 123.8 is the best in the league.

Edwards fights infection

Browns rookie receiver Braylon Edwards remained in a hospital Monday, recovering from surgery to eradicate an infection in his right arm that kept Edwards out of a 20-10 win over Chicago and could sideline him longer.

The team was awaiting lab results to determine the nature of Edwards' infection, which caused abnormal swelling near his elbow and prompted a team doctor to perform surgery Saturday.

"I know the doctor was satisfied about the surgery he performed to clean out that infection," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "After he looks at it, he was hoping it would show good progress and that he would be able to give us some kind of timetable as far as when Braylon may or may not be back."

The Browns were vague in releasing more than the basic information on Edwards, the No. 3 overall pick in April's draft. The team said Edwards will remain in the Cleveland Clinic and continue to receive antibiotics.

Vikings enlist help

The Minnesota Vikings' horrendous start to the season has the team desperately looking for answers.

Coming off the bye with three games against division foes in the next four weeks -- including the Chicago Bears on Sunday -- the Vikings hope two familiar faces will help them figure out exactly what is going wrong. Coach Mike Tice brought in old pals Jerry Rhome and Foge Fazio as consultants, hoping a fresh set of eyes will shed some light on the team's 1-3 start.

Rhome will clearly hold a key place in the game-planning structure, helping offensive coordinator Steve Loney with the playcalling in hopes of jump-starting the Vikings' offense.

Fazio won't be as involved as Rhome, but will be heavily relied upon to help reduce mental mistakes that have led to big plays on the field.

"Whatever it takes to win," linebacker Sam Cowart said of the additions. "Because whatever we were doing the first four games, we're 1-3, it wasn't working. ... We need the help."

-- From wire reports