NFL: Pittsburgh expects QB Ben Roethlisberger to play against Oakland

PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has worked out without problems since missing Sunday night's game in Baltimore with a concussion and is expected to play Sunday against Oakland.

Roethlisberger was held out of the 20-17 overtime loss to the Ravens after having post-practice headaches Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

A team doctor recommended Saturday that the quarterback not play, and coach Mike Tomlin agreed.

While the Steelers did not practice on Monday, Roethlisberger worked out on his own and did not have any problems, Tomlin said.

"All indications are he'll be a full participant tomorrow [Wednesday] in practice and ultimately play in the game on Sunday," Tomlin said Tuesday.

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward apologized for openly questioning Roethlisberger's toughness, saying he spoke emotionally without knowing a team doctor recommended the quarterback not play Sunday because of a concussion.

Ward talked Monday with Roethlisberger and coach Mike Tomlin in separate conversations, expressing regret for saying during a pregame NBC-TV interview that the locker room was split 50-50 whether the quarterback should play in Baltimore.

"I have apologized to Ben," Ward wrote in a posting on his Facebook page. "Ben and I are cool and always will be. We will not let this come between us, our talk was very productive."

"I would never question a man's toughness playing in a STEELER unif(orm)," Ward wrote. "I didn't mean to cause such a stir. My frustration was based on the fact that this was a big game for us to stay in the playoff picture and having Ben out there gave us our best opp(ortunity) to win. I was frustrated because there was no indication of Ben not being able to play because he practiced a normal routine."

McDaniels apologizes

After realizing that more than 6 million viewers heard him curse out his players on Thanksgiving night, Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels has issued an apology.

McDaniels said he was sorry that two obscenities were accidentally aired by the NFL Network during the Broncos' 26-6 win over the New York Giants on Thursday night.

The network immediately apologized for its mistake; after the game McDaniels brushed off the incident, saying: "It's the NFL Network. Doesn't surprise me."

Five days later, McDaniels began his Tuesday news conference, his first since the game, by saying: "I want to make sure I apologize for anybody that was offended with the language that I used the other night on the sideline during the game."

Notes

• The Atlanta Falcons have released kicker Jason Elam.

Elam, a 17-year veteran and one of the league's most accurate kickers, missed only two kicks last season, his first with the Falcons. But he struggled this year, making only 8 of 15 field goal attempts from at least 30 yards.

• The late Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas will be the 10th player in Kansas City Chiefs history to have his number retired.

The Chiefs will retire No. 58 on Sunday during halftime of their game with the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.

• Tight end Brent Celek signed a six-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles, becoming the latest player to get a long-term deal with the team. Celek's deal runs through the 2016 season

• Former NFL linebacker Dwayne Rudd has been ordered to pay 10 percent of his income for failing to pay more than $540,000 in child support.

• Rookie safety Curtis Taylor's season is over for the San Francisco 49ers.

The team placed Taylor on injured reserve with a strained hip, which he injured after being hit on punt coverage late in the first quarter of Sunday's 20-3 win over Jacksonville.

• Linebacker Antonio Pierce said he thinks he can play two or three more seasons in the NFL, and he has no reason to believe they won't be with the New York Giants.

"I think with everything that's gone on that I've been here for the last five years, and everything that I gave New York and the organization, that I'll be here," said Pierce, who went on injured reserve with a bulging disk in his neck.

• The Chicago Bears have signed linebacker Cato June to a one-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.

• Tampa Bay has signed punter Sam Paulescu to replace injured Dirk Johnson.