Cowboys turn to Cassel as starting quarterback

Quarterback Matt Cassel will start the Dallas Cowboys’ next game after Brandon Weeden lost all three of his starts in place of injured Tony Romo.

Coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday the move to Cassel was an attempt to spark a team that needs to win at least once — and probably twice — in the next four games without Romo, who will be out at least that long with a broken left collarbone.

The Cowboys (2-3) are on their bye and have about 10 days to get Cassel ready to face the New York Giants on Oct. 25.

Concussion violations

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster and Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bernard Pierce were on the field with potential head trauma last weekend.

Foster returned to play on his own before the Texans’ medical staff could evaluate him. Pierce showed no symptoms of a concussion until he attempted a block instead of trying to make a tackle on the punt unit.

The NFL said both teams properly handled the concussion protocol once they had the opportunity to do so or suspected possible head trauma.

Rex coy on Taylor’s status

Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered a sprained ligament in his left knee Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, but coach Rex Ryan wouldn’t rule him out from playing against Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ryan said Taylor would practice on a limited basis, with backup EJ Manuel taking the majority of the snaps, but he disputed reports Taylor might miss three weeks because of the injury.

‘Big Ben’ back at practice

Pittsburgh Steelers quarter- back Ben Roethlisberger was a limited participant in practice for the first time since suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sept. 27.

Roethlisberger, who took part in non-contact seven-on-seven passing drills, appears to be on course to beat the original timetable of missing six weeks.

Fine for tribute to dad

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward said on Twitter that the NFL fined him for paying tribute to his late father.

Heyward tweeted the league penalized him for writing ‘‘Iron Head’’ on his eye black. Craig Heyward, who died of cancer in 2006, spent a decade as a running back in the NFL and went by the nickname ‘‘Ironhead.’’