Steelers’ Burress Out for Year

Wide receiver Plaxico Burress, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ disappointing rookie wide receiver, will sit out the rest of the season with two broken bones and ligament damage in his right hand.

The injury is a further setback to Burress, who was expected to give a big lift to the Steelers’ passing attack but still does not have a touchdown catch.

The injury might partly explain why Burress dropped a succession of passes, leading to his benching two weeks ago. He will end the season with 22 catches in 12 games.

The Steelers also learned that center Dermontti Dawson will sit out his fourth consecutive game with a recurring right hamstring injury.

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Miami Dolphin quarterback Jay Fiedler took most of the snaps in practice again and is expected to start Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Fiedler missed last week’s victory at Indianapolis because of a pinched nerve in his neck and was replaced by Damon Huard.

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Two women are suing Baltimore Raven linebacker Ray Lewis for $6 million, claiming he struck them during a brawl in a crowded bar last year. The women, Catrice Parker and Ericka Ury, accused Lewis of assault and battery and inflicting emotional distress and are seeking $2 million on each count. . . . General Manager Mike Brown indicated Akili Smith has lost his grip on the Cincinnati Bengals’ starting quarterback job, saying he wants to see what backup Scott Mitchell can do in the season’s final month. If he does well, Brown will offer him a chance to return next year and win the starting job in training camp.