Steelers unconcerned on Big Ben’s ankle
One snap late in the fourth quarter with the Pittsburgh Steelers up three scores and the 30-12 wild card victory over Miami well in hand left quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wearing a walking boot postgame.
Roethlisberger tweaked his right ankle when Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake fell on his legs during a third-down heave that resulted in an interception. Roethlisberger was face down on the Heinz Field turf for a moment before walking off and later jogging to the locker room at the end of the game.
Roethlisberger brushed it off afterward and there appears to be no concerns over his availability for next weekend’s visit to Kansas City. Pittsburgh had no trouble with the Chiefs on Oct. 2 in a 43-14 rout.
Also, Steelers outside linebackers coach Joey Porter was placed on leave by the team following his arrest at a Pittsburgh bar on Sunday night on charges of aggravated assault on an officer, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, defiant trespass and public drunkenness. . . .
Receiver Jordy Nelson will sit out the Green Bay Packers practice at midweek to focus on rehab for his rib injury from Sunday’s 31-13 win over the Giants. Coach Mike McCarthy said his top receiver may be cleared to play in Dallas for the divisional playoff if he practices on Saturday. Nelson spent Sunday night in the hospital.
Jags pick Marrone
Jacksonville’s coaching search landed someone from its past and present.
Owner Shad Khan hired Doug Marrone as head coach yesterday and brought back Tom Coughlin to oversee football operations. Marrone replaces Gus Bradley, who was fired in late November after going 14-48 in three-plus seasons. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels interviewed for the job over the weekend.
The Jaguars (3-13) also gave general manager Dave Caldwell a two-year contract extension. . . .
The San Francisco 49ers interviewed Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay for the team’s vacant head coaching job.
Beckham scolded
New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese told star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. that he needs to be more responsible. Beckham has been under the microscope after taking a one-day trip to Miami with some fellow receivers last Monday before a wild card playoff game at Green Bay.
Beckham dropped a career-high three passes in the Giants 38-13 loss, and more controversy followed: It was alleged that he punched a hole in a wall outside the Giants’ locker room at Lambeau Field. . . .
The NFL and NFL Players Association began a review of the concussion protocol conducted on Miami quarterback Matt Moore when he left his team’s playoff game at Pittsburgh after a hit in the jaw. Moore missed one play. . . .
Average TV viewership for the four NFL wild card telecasts was down about 7 percent from a year ago, in line with lower ratings of the regular season. The playoff games averaged about 30.3 million viewers, compared with about 32.7 million for those games in January 2016.