The Sports Xchange

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was injured in the third quarter of the team’s game against the St. Louis Rams Sunday.

Roethlisberger had his lower leg rolled into by a sprawling Rams safety Mark Barron on a sack with just under five minutes to play in the quarter. The injury was to Roethlisberger’s left knee and he was declared out for the rest of the game.

Roethlisberger was on the turf for several minutes before limping off the field and was replaced by Mike Vick.

Roethlisberger was seen on crutches following the Steelers’ 12-6 victory. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had little information on Roethlisberger, except to say he was “being evaluated” and would have an MRI after returning to Pittsburgh. When pressed if there were any X-rays or anything more, Tomlin said he didn’t have anything more, and added, “I promise I’ll give you more when I have it.”

—The start of Sunday’s game between the Rams and Steelers was delayed for 26 minutes when some of the turf at the Edward Jones Dome was burned during pregame introductions of the Rams’ offensive starters.

The area in question was underneath a mini-stage used to launch pregame pyrotechnics.

Workers with fire extinguishers came to the field to clean up the foam from the extinguishers, which covered an area about 12 feet wide and nine feet deep inside the 5-yard line about 25 feet from the Rams sideline. A vacuum was also brought onto the field followed by other workers who helped wipe down the area and then towel it off as well as using squeegees. Even after finishing, there was a small area at the 3-yard line that was visibly missing turf.

—It took until Week 3, but Rams running back Todd Gurley was active for the first time this season and made his NFL debut in the first quarter against the Steelers on Sunday.

The 10th overall pick in the draft, Gurley had suffered a torn ACL on Nov. 15, 2014, while playing for Georgia against Auburn. He had six carries for nine yards in the game and caught one pass for five yards in his debut.

—Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was finished for the day after suffering a hamstring injury in Sunday’s first half against the Chicago Bears.

It was the latest injury to Lynch, who struggled with a sore calf last week and seemed to be having a back problem that delayed him getting onto the field for Sunday’s game.

Lynch was in the locker room until about midway through the first quarter, then he rushed five times for 14 yards and added a 9-yard reception in the first half. He was out of action after halftime, as the team announced Lynch would not return due to a hamstring injury.

—Two Buffalo Bills starters — wide receiver Sammy Watkins and right guard John Miller — left Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter due to injuries.

Watkins suffered a calf injury. Miller left due to a groin injury. Both were listed as questionable to return.

— Running back Andre Ellington and left guard Mike Iupati were inactive for the Arizona Cardinals against the San Francisco 49ers.

Ellington, bothered by a sprained posterial cruciate ligament, had been listed as doubtful and Iupati, recovering from surgery to repair damaged meniscus, was questionable.

—Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes was ruled out after being diagnosed with a head injury during Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers.

Rhodes was injured following a collision while defending a pass.

—Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Breshad Perriman, a first-round pick who has been out since the first day of training camp with a knee injury, might have suffered a setback during warm-ups prior to Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Perriman was running under a deep throw by wide receivers coach Bobby Engram and pulled up in the end zone. He then bent over in apparent pain. Perriman was able to walk back to the sideline and caught a few more balls, but he did not continue running any more routes.

—For the first time since being sucker-punched, New York quarterback Geno Smith was active and was available when the Jets faced the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday.

Smith, who suffered a broken jaw in August, was listed as third string behind starter Ryan Fitzpatrick and rookie Bryce Petty. Smith did not play in the game.

—Eagles running back DeMarco Murray was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Jets with a hamstring injury.

Murray has just 11 rushing yards on 21 attempts this season. He missed part of practice Wednesday and underwent an MRI on his hamstring, and then he missed all of practice Thursday. He returned to full practice Friday but was listed as questionable.

—Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who did not appear on the injury report all week, was inactive for Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders.

The Browns signed Bowe to a three-year deal worth a guaranteed $9.5 million in March with the hope he would fill their hole at No. 1 receiver, but Bowe reportedly showed up to camp out of shape.

—New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who did not play Sunday and risk further injury against the Carolina Panthers, could be a “long shot” to play next week against the Dallas Cowboys.

Brees suffered a bruised rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network that Brees is a “long shot” to play next Sunday night, per sources informed of his injury.

Rapoport said Brees’ shoulder injury is actually a rotator cuff sprain — not a bruise. The difference in the injury designation is that the sprain indicates some structural damage in the shoulder, a tiny tear in the rotator cuff, according to the report.