Maddox Will Miss at Least Six Weeks

Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Tommy Maddox will be out at least six weeks because of a torn ligament and tendon damage in his right elbow, an injury that at least temporarily makes rookie Ben Roethlisberger the starter.

Maddox was injured while being hit in the third quarter of a loss Sunday in Baltimore. Coach Bill Cowher initially thought Maddox might need season-ending reconstructive elbow surgery, but team doctors said Monday an operation wasn’t necessary.

Maddox plans to seek a second opinion from elbow injury specialist Dr. James Andrews, an orthopedic surgeon in Birmingham, Ala. Unless Andrews’ diagnosis differs from those of the team doctors, Maddox will not throw or practice for six weeks but could resume playing sometime in November.

“It’s the best-case scenario,” Cowher said.

With Maddox expected to miss at least five games, the Steelers will bring in a veteran quarterback to back up Roethlisberger and Brian St. Pierre, a former Boston College player who has never played in an NFL game.

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New Orleans Saint running back Deuce McAllister will probably be sidelined four to five weeks because of an ankle injury suffered in Sunday’s win over San Francisco, Coach Jim Haslett said.

McAllister thought it was broken at first. X-rays on Sunday were negative and an MRI Monday showed a sprain and a stretched ligament where the shin bone meets the ankle.

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Chicago Bear safety Mike Brown will miss the rest of the season after tearing his right Achilles’ tendon against Green Bay, Coach Lovie Smith said.

Brown was injured in the closing minutes of the victory over the Packers.

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Baltimore Raven tight end Todd Heap will miss two to four weeks because of a sprained right ankle suffered in Sunday’s victory over Pittsburgh.

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Indianapolis Colt running back Edgerrin James strained his hamstring in Sunday’s victory over Tennessee and may miss this weekend’s game against Green Bay.

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Kansas City Chief running back Priest Holmes missed much of the last quarter of Sunday’s loss to Carolina after spraining his left ankle, and the Chiefs aren’t sure if he’ll play against Houston this weekend.

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Dallas Cowboy rookie running back Julius Jones will miss at least two months after breaking his left shoulder blade Sunday against Cleveland.... Miami Dolphin defensive tackle Larry Chester will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his right knee, his agent said. Chester was injured Sunday against Cincinnati.... New York Jet defensive end Josh Evans will have back surgery and is out indefinitely, the team said.... Denver Bronco defensive end Trevor Pryce had an MRI on his lower back to determine the severity of nerve damage that kept him out of a loss to Jacksonville.