Ex-Sooner Jones (left) takes over for Vick,
Backup QB suffers hamstring injury in win over Cardinals.
First, Michael Vick went to the sideline after taking a knee to the helmet. Then he returned, with the Pittsburgh Steelers saying all that was wrong was a little dirt in his eye.
And then Vick left the game again, in the third quarter, this time with what the team said was an injured right hamstring.
Already without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers beat the Cardinals 25-13 on Sunday, relying on third-string QB Landry Jones (8-of-12, 168 yards), who had never taken a regular-season snap but threw a pair of touchdown passes.
Of more concern to the Steelers might be a different injury.
Left tackle Kelvin Beachum is done for the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee.
Bills: Starting receiver Sammy Watkins did not return after twisting his left ankle while making a 22-yard TD catch.
Starting defensive tackle Kyle Williams was cart- ed off after hurting his left knee in the final minutes.
Titans: Rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota had to use a knee brace after Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon rolled onto his left leg.
Tennessee coach Ken Whisenhunt and Mariota’s left tackle, Taylor Lewan, complained after the game that Vernon’s hit, which drew a roughing-the-passer penalty, was intentional.
Also, Mariota’s center, Brian Schwenke, dislocated his left ankle.
Concussion roundup: Among those who left games with concussions were Chiefs defensive end Mike DeVito and receiver Jeremy Maclin; Jets cornerback Buster Skrine; and Bills right tackle Seantrel Henderson.
Browns running back Duke Johnson exited with what the team initially said was a potential head injury. He returned, and afterward, the Browns said he had a shoulder injury.
Heyward risks fine to honor late father: Cam Heyward is more concerned about paying tribute to his late father and those battling cancer than whatever fine the NFL might give him.
The Steelers defensive end wore eye black with “Ironhead” written on it for the second straight week during Sunday’s win. Heyward’s father, Craig Heyward, went by “Ironhead” during a standout career at Pitt and then another 11 years in the NFL as a running back for four teams. The elder Heyward died after a long fight with cancer in 2006.
The NFL hit Cam Heyward with a $5,787 fine for displaying a personal message. Heyward said he’ll continue to pay the fine, adding he doesn’t “want to ruffle any feathers, but this is bigger than all we play for. There are people fighting for (their) lives.”