First, no Ben Roethlisberger. Now, maybe no Byron Leftwich for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dennis Dixon, you're up next.
Leftwich, expected to be the fill-in starter for the suspended Roethlisberger at quarterback for the Steelers, sprained his left knee in the second quarter as Pittsburgh (3-1) beat the starter-less Carolina Panthers 19-3 in the preseason finale Thursday night.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Leftwich would undergo an MRI on Friday, but backup Charlie Batch called it a ``serious'' injury, and Dixon - now the likely starter for the season opener against Atlanta - said he couldn't talk to Leftwich because doctors were working on the knee so intensely.
``It's an opportunity, I guess, but it's unfortunate for Byron for what he went through,'' Dixon said. ``But this team has to continue to go forward.''
Just as it has done as it awaits the fate of Roethlisberger, who will meet Friday with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to learn if his suspension for off-field behavior will be reduced to four games, as expected, or stay at six games.
``It's very tough, kind of emotional,'' said Roethlisberger, who cannot practice with the Steelers while suspended. ``I've just got to go do what I've got to do.''
Leftwich (4 of 6, 39 yards) was hurt on an 18-yard completion to Emmanuel Sanders as running back Mewelde Moore and safety Marcus Hudson collided near him with 10:25 remaining in the first half. Leftwich immediately clutched his knee in pain.
Dixon completed his only pass against Carolina (1-3) for a 23-yard touchdown to rookie Emmanuel Sanders.
In Cleveland, rookie running back Montario Hardesty was on crutches after injuring his left knee in the second quarter of the Browns' 13-10 win over the Chicago Bears, a potentially major blow to their offense.
Hardesty, whose career at Tennessee was slowed by knee injuries, said it felt nothing like any of his previous injuries. He's scheduled for an MRI and more tests Friday.
``I hurt my knee making a cut,'' a dejected Hardesty said. ``I really don't know what it is. I can't say it's not frustrating. I want to stay positive, get as much information as possible and return my focus to getting better. I'm hopeful whatever it is, I can get back as soon as possible.''
Fellow Browns rookie Colt McCoy got his first pro start and went a perfect 13 of 13 for 131 yards in two-plus quarters.
Quarterback Todd Collins, recently signed by Chicago to back up Jay Cutler, completed 10 of 15 for 139 yards and a 15-yard TD pass to tight end Greg Olsen for the Bears (0-4).
Phil Dawson kicked a 36-yard field goal - set up when Browns defensive back DeAngelo Smith blocked a punt - as time expired for the Browns (2-2).
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Michael Vick led Philadelphia to a field goal in two series in his first start in four years, and Kurt Coleman scored on two fumble returns, but New York (2-2) beat Philadelphia (2-2).
Mark Brunell's 51-yard touchdown pass to former Pittsburgh Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes in the fourth quarter put the Jets ahead to stay as neither team used its starters.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Undrafted rookie Max Hall completed 7 of 9 passes for 126 yards and scored on a 6-yard run in the Cardinals' victory.
Hall directed Arizona (3-1) to two TDs and a field goal in his three possessions. Derek Anderson, starting for the second week ahead of Matt Leinart, played a series, completing 2 of 3 for 47 yards. Leinart played the next two, going 3 of 5 for 14 yards against the Redskins (2-2).
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Top overall draft pick Sam Bradford made another favorable impression, going 6 for 6 for 68 yards and a touchdown for St. Louis.
A.J. Feeley's thumb injury gave Bradford his starting shot last week, and the rookie may have done enough to get the nod in the opener against Arizona.
The Ravens (3-1) held out all of their starters, plus backup quarterback Marc Bulger in his return to St. Louis after getting released by the Rams (3-1) in April.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Denver rookie Tim Tebow outplayed Minnesota's Tarvaris Jackson in the backup quarterback comparison, but the Vikings forced four first-half turnovers and beat the Broncos.
Tebow was 12 for 16 for 167 yards and one touchdown and also ran for 21 yards on four carries for the Broncos (1-3). His favorite target was Matthew Willis, who caught five passes for 122 yards and a score. Minnesota native Eric Decker had 10 catches for 114 yards.
The Vikings (3-1) held out 20 of their 22 starters. Brett Favre watched in a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Rhett Bomar may have nailed down the job as New York's backup quarterback, throwing a 60-yard scoring pass to Duke Calhoun with 1:49 to play as the Giants (2-2) rallied to beat New England.
The winning score came just minutes after Darnell Jenkins put the Patriots (2-2) ahead of the Giants 17-12 by catching a short pass from Brian Hoyer and turning it into a 66-yard scoring play with one move and a burst of speed.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - David Buehler kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired, lifting Dallas (3-2) past Miami (2-2).
The kick capped a convincing night for Buehler, who handled only kickoffs as a rookie last season. He also made field goals of 51, 45 and 40 yards.
Third-string quarterback Stephen McGee played the entire game for Dallas. He threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hurd against Miami's starters, then led the winning drive in the final 2 minutes.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Alvin Pearman had a 5-yard touchdown run with 3:18 left to help Tennessee (2-2) beat Super Bowl champion New Orleans (2-2).
Vince Young threw a scoring pass, and LeGarrette Blount also ran for a score.
The Saints' Harry Coleman recovered the ball off the first of two blocked punts for a TD, and Chase Daniel had a 35-yard TD pass to Adrian Arrington.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Manny Lawson and rookie Taylor Mays each had interceptions and rookie Anthony Dixon ran 46 yards for a first-half touchdown to help San Francisco complete its first unbeaten preseason in 18 years.
Jehuu Caulcrick caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis with 8:41 left and Joe Nedney added a 25-yard field goal. San Francisco (4-0) went undefeated in its exhibition schedule for the first time since 1992.
Jeremy Williams returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown, then caught a 29-yard pass to set up Curtis Brinkley's 2-yard TD run late for San Diego (1-3).
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Cedric Peerman had a 93-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and reserve Jordan Palmer - starter Carson Palmer's brother - completed 10 of 14 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati (3-2).
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning didn't play, and most of the starters took the night off for Indianapolis (0-4).
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Matt Cassel and Brodie Croyle each led touchdown drives and Kansas City (1-3) won for the first time in the preseason since 2008.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a host of other Green Bay starters didn't suit up for the final tuneup. Backup Matt Flynn played into the third quarter, completing 23 of 37 passes for 304 yards. The Packers were 2-2 in exhibition play.
HOUSTON (AP) - Rudy Carpenter threw two TD passes to Arrelious Benn, and Corey Lynch returned one of his two interceptions 91 yards for a score to help Tampa Bay (2-2) beat Houston (1-3).
Carpenter completed 15 of 22 passes for 203 yards and played into the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay rested starter Josh Freeman and backup Josh Johnson.
Houston backup Dan Orlovsky started and threw both interceptions to Lynch.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Bruce Gradkowski threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter, and Kyle Boller also threw a scoring pass and Swayze Waters kicked two field goals for Oakland (3-1).
Charlie Whitehurst threw a touchdown pass and former Raider Louis Rankin scored on a 99-yard kickoff return for the Seahawks (1-3).
DETROIT (AP) - Third-stringer Drew Stanton threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes for Detroit after Matthew Stafford had an interception returned for a touchdown.
Stafford's second pass was picked off by Drayton Florence and Detroit (3-1) punted on his second and last drive. Trent Edwards was 4 for 4 for 66 yards - including a 50-yard pass to Lee Evans - for Buffalo (2-2) on his only drive to set up the first of Rian Lindell's three field goals.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Fullback Brock Bolen scored on a 16-yard run, and Josh Scobee kicked two field goals for Jacksonville (2-2).
Jacksonville's Luke McCown filled in for David Garrard and completed 5 of 12 passes for 39 yards. Chris Redman, starting in place of Matt Ryan for Atlanta (2-2), completed 15 of 22 passes for 142 yards.
