Roethlisberger nursing sore right elbow

Chargers’ Bosa to miss Sunday game in Buffalo

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missed practice again Thursday because of an issue with his right elbow.

Roethlisberger, 36, injured the elbow on Pittsburgh’s next-to-last offensive snap in a Week 1 tie with Cleveland. He did not practice Wednesday and second-year quarterback Josh Dobbs took all the snaps with the starters Thursday.

Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner declined to get into specifics about Roethlisberger’s status for Sunday’s home opener against Kansas City.

Roethlisberger downplayed the significance of the injury Wednesday. He often does not throw on Wednesdays during the season to help keep his right arm fresh. It is unusual for him not to practice on Thursdays.

Roethlisberger has not missed a start because of injury since October 2016 when he sat out a loss to New England after undergoing a procedure on his left knee.

FALCONS: Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman (knee) was held out of practice again, leaving his status uncertain for Sunday’s game against Carolina.

Coach Dan Quinn said Thursday he’ll know more about Freeman’s status today.

Tevin Coleman would start if Freeman can’t play. Running back Brian Hill was promoted from the practice squad earlier in the week.

CHARGERS: Los Angeles defensive end Joey Bosa will miss Sunday’s game at Buffalo because of a bone bruise to his left foot.

Coach Anthony Lynn said Thursday that the team will be cautious before bringing the third-year lineman back. Bosa first injured the foot during training camp, which caused him to miss the preseason. He then reinjured it during practice Sept. 5.

Bosa has 23 career sacks in two seasons, including an NFL-record 19 in his first 20 games.

TITANS: Tennessee limited Marcus Mariota at practice Thursday and gave more work to backup Blaine Gabbert, and coach Mike Vrabel says they want to evaluate which quarterback will give them the best chance against the Houston Texans.

Mariota practiced fully Wednesday after an injured elbow knocked him out of Tennessee’s 27-20 opening loss in Miami, and Vrabel said the quarterback should play Sunday in the home opener barring any setbacks.

On Thursday, Mariota’s snaps were pared back, leaving him limited in practice.

RAMS: Aaron Donald is his own worst critic. Nothing is going to change that, not even a contract extension that briefly made the All-Pro lineman the highest-paid defender in NFL history.

Donald was not pleased with his performance in the Rams’ opener, recording one tackle in the 33-13 victory at Oakland on Monday night. With a few days to reflect on his first game since agreeing to a six-year, $135-million deal, he stood by that initial assessment, but acknowledged it was an much a motivational ploy as a genuine assessment.

“That’s just about trying to push myself and get myself better, you know,” Donald said Thursday. “Still got to get better each day. I just got to keep working.”

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips understood Donald’s thinking, but felt the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year was mostly effective in getting past the Raiders offensive line, even if it did not always result in him pressuring quarterback Derek Carr. Donald did sack Carr in the first quarter, but it was negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty for a low tackle.