PITTSBURGH - Falling to the lowly Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in overtime Sunday was bad enough. But the real concern for the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers were the losses within the loss. Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger couldn’t finish after a knee to his head in overtime left him with a possible concussion. He underwent tests yesterday, but the team didn’t immediately update his condition and his status for Sunday night’s crucial AFC North showdown at Baltimore might not be known until later in the week.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce is out indefinitely after an MRI exam on Friday surprisingly revealed a bulging disk in his neck. Pierce, 31, originally sustained a burner when the Giants played Arizona on Oct. 25. He had very little discomfort until practice this week, when the club’s medical staff scheduled the MRI exam.

ASHBURN—Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis will miss his second straight game as he recovers from a concussion. Coach Jim Zorn yesterday ruled Portis out for Sunday’s game at NFC East rival Dallas. Portis has not been able to practice since he was injured in a helmet-to-helmet hit in the Redskins’ Nov. 8 loss to Atlanta.

WASHINGTON - Washington running back Ladell Betts is questionable for the Redskins’ game against Denver in which he had been slated to start for Clinton Portis. Coach Jim Zorn said yesterday he thinks Betts will play tomorrow despite a sprained ankle, but the coach also is prepared to go with a running back by committee of Betts, Rock Cartwright and Quinton Ganther.

Portis ruled out with concussion ASHBURN - Clinton Portis’ concussion will keep the Washington Redskins running back out of Sunday’s game, one of many injury concerns for coach Jim Zorn as his team prepares to face the Denver Broncos. Portis was hurt in a helmet-to-helmet hit in the first quarter of Sunday’s 31-17 loss to Atlanta. He underwent tests this week and was not at the practice facility yesterday.

INDIANAPOLIS - The injury bug is still haunting the Indianapolis Colts. Cornerback Marlin Jackson and safety Bob Sanders were lost for the season yesterday as the team placed them on injured reserve. Jackson, who missed the second half of the 2008 season after injuring his right knee during practice, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee during a non-contact drill Wednesday. He had been rehabbing the knee after he was hurt against Seattle on Oct. 4.

RENTON, Wash.—Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has fully participated in practice a day after sitting out to give his broken ribs a rest. Hasselbeck said after practice that he feels similar to how he felt at this point a week ago. The Seahawks host Detroit on Sunday. Seneca Wallace ran the first-team offense Wednesday, but it was Hasselbeck leading the charge yesterday.

HOUSTON—Houston tight end Owen Daniels has a torn knee ligament and will have season-ending surgery to repair the injury. Daniels, who injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, was hurt on Houston’s second possession in Sunday’s 31-10 win at Buffalo when he caught his foot in the turf. The fourth-year player has 40 receptions for 519 yards and five touchdowns this season. He’ll be replaced by Joel Dreessen when the Texans travel to Indianapolis on Sunday.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - The Minnesota Vikings will be without Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield when they face the Green Bay Packers in a pivotal NFC North game tomorrow. Winfield (right foot) was listed as out in yesterday’s injury report. He also missed last week’s game against Pittsburgh. The Vikings (6-1) have a bye after the game against Green Bay (4-2), so they could be playing it safe with one of their most important defenders.

NAPA, Calif. - Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable won’t face charges after being investigated over allegations that he assaulted one of his assistants, ending a two-month saga that was a cloud over the team’s season. Napa County district attorney Gary Lieberstein said yesterday that the investigation concluded no charges were warranted. The alleged attack occurred at the team’s training camp hotel on Aug. 5 in Napa, after Cable called Randy Hanson into a meeting with defensive coordinator John Marshall and defensive backs coaches Lionel Washington and Willie Brown.

CINCINNATI - Defensive end Antwan Odom had surgery for a torn Achilles’ tendon yesterday, ending his season and leaving the Cincinnati Bengals with a gaping hole on their defensive line. Odom was the Bengals’ top pass rusher, tied for the league lead with eight sacks. He hurt his right Achilles’ tendon during a 28-17 loss to Houston on Sunday. The Bengals put Odom on injured reserve but didn’t immediately fill his spot.

PHILADELPHIA—Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb returned to practice yesterday and is expected to start Sunday when the Eagles host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McNabb has been out since breaking his rib in the season opener. He missed two games before the Eagles had their bye this past weekend. McNabb was injured scoring a rushing touchdown Sept. 6 in a win over the Carolina Panthers.

CLEVELAND - RB James Davis, whose impressive exhibition season led to speculation about Jamal Lewis’ future in Cleveland, will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Davis was hurt in the Browns’ season opener against Minnesota. He was inactive the following week against Denver and had just five carries for 10 yards last Sunday in a 34-3 defeat at Baltimore.

ASHBURN - Banged-up running back Clinton Portis will be a game-time decision for the second consecutive week for the Washington Redskins. Portis is nursing a bruised calf after getting kicked in the second half of last week’s loss to Detroit. He’s also been hindered by bone spurs in both ankles, but coach Jim Zorn said yesterday the calf is the reason he feels Portis has a “50-50” chance of playing tomorrow against Tampa Bay.

IRVING, Texas—Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber is expected to play Sunday against Denver. Barber missed Monday night’s 21-7 victory against Carolina after injuring a thigh the previous week. Barber showed more progress than expected Wednesday, and he was in full gear for yesterday’s practice. Barber’s return gained urgency when backup Felix Jones sprained a left knee ligament against the Panthers. The second-year back from Arkansas is not expected to play against the Broncos.