Artesia’s Jones getting a chance to audition

Steelers’ backup QB to start finale vs. Browns

PITTSBURGH — Landry Jones will be looking for a job in March. Consider Sunday’s regular-season finale against Cleveland the Pittsburgh Steelers’ backup quarterback’s last best chance at landing an interview.

Nearing the end of his fourth season behind Ben Roethlisberger, the Artesia High alumnus believes his personal learning curve has leveled off. That the game is slowing down. That he still has the talent to play at the highest level.

So while the outcome against the Browns won’t make a lick of difference in where or when the AFC North champion Steelers open the playoffs, Jones is well aware it could make a significant impact on what locker room he’s in next fall.

“It’s in the back of your mind,” said Jones, who will make his fourth career start while the Steelers give Roethlisberger the day off. “First and foremost you want to win the game. There’s nothing that replaces going out there and getting a win.”

That’s something Jones has only done once in four years, and even that comes with a major asterisk. He started at Heinz Field against the Browns in November 2015, only to leave in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Roethlisberger, held out with a sprained foot, came on and threw for 379 yards in a 30-9 win.

There won’t be a safety net this time around with Roethlisberger inactive. Only the shot to prove what Jones can do.

“He’s a free agent next year, there’s no telling whether he’s a $4 (million) or $5 million a year guy, or be a $2 (million) or $3 million a year backup,” guard Ramon Foster said. “There’s a lot for him on the line.”

Jones played solidly in his one start this season, completing 29 of 47 passes for 281 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 27-16 loss to New England on Oct. 23 while Roethlisberger recovered from left knee surgery.

COWBOYS: Ezekiel Elliott’s pursuit of the NFL rookie rushing record is all but done. He needs 178 yards in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Philadelphia to break the mark of 1,808 yards set by Eric Dickerson in 1983.

With the playoffs looming, Elliott didn’t play in the fourth quarter of Monday’s win over the Detroit Lions. It’s likely he won’t play all of the game in Philly, either, since there is nothing at stake.

“I really don’t focus on it,” Elliott said, but he added that he wants to play Sunday.

“You guys say meaningful games,” he told reporters. “Everything is meaningful — even though it may not matter if we win or lose it — but it matters in the total grand scheme of things. We’re trying to stay sharp, trying to have a sharp edge every week so we can go into this playoffs like a high-octane machine.”

BUCS: Running back Doug Martin has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing substances and said Wednesday he’s entering a treatment facility rather than appeal the ban.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection, slowed by a hamstring injury this season after rushing for 1,402 yards in 2015, will miss Sunday’s regular-season finale against Carolina.

He also sat out last week’s 31-24 loss at New Orleans after being declared inactive against the Saints.

RAIDERS: Plenty has changed around Oakland between starts at quarterback by Matt McGloin.

When McGloin last got the chance to start a game late in 2013, the Raiders were wrapping up a four-win season with a roster severely lacking in talent.

When McGloin takes the field Sunday in Denver in place of the injured Derek Carr, he will have three Pro Bowl linemen protecting him, a pair of big-play receivers on the outside in Pro Bowler Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree and a running game that has been one of the league’s best in recent weeks.

He’ll also have far more at stake than he had in any of those six starts he made three years ago. With a win over the Broncos (8-7), the Raiders (12-3) will be AFC West champs and get a first-round bye in the playoffs. A loss coupled with a Kansas City win in San Diego will leave Oakland as a wild-card team traveling to play AFC South champion Houston on the opening weekend of the playoffs.

“It’s exciting,” McGloin said. “This is the position you want to be in.

BRONCOS: DeMarcus Ware needs season-ending back surgery that could spell the end of his NFL career.

Denver placed Ware on injured reserve Wednesday along with cornerback Kayvon Webster, who suffered a concussion last weekend at Kansas City.