NFL notebook: Roethlisberger expects to start Sunday

Roethlisberger required a pain-killing injection to deal with a rib injury
sustained in the second quarter last week in Pittsburgh's loss to the Oakland
Raiders. He returned to the game late in the fourth quarter.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger is dealing with bruised ribs.
Roethlisberger said during his weekly radio spot on Tuesday that he required
X-rays in the locker room, but the tests were inconclusive.

--The Minnesota Vikings fired first-year offensive coordinator John DeFilippo.

The move comes after the Vikings' 21-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday,
the team's third defeat in its past four games. Minnesota has finished with
fewer than 300 yards of total offense four times in the past five games.

Quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski has been elevated to interim offensive
coordinator and will take over play-calling duties.

--Injured running back Melvin Gordon is not expected to be in uniform Thursday
when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL Network
reported.

However, Gordon was officially limited in Tuesday's practice, noteworthy
progress considering he was unavailable entirely since the original knee
injury.

NFL Network reported that Gordon and his primary backup, Austin Ekeler (neck,
concussion), likely would miss the showdown at Arrowhead Stadium.
Specifically, coach Anthony Lynn told the network that the team isn't
optimistic either player would suit up.

--The Titans placed right tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Jonnu Smith on
injured reserve due to knee injuries. Both starters were hurt during
Tennessee's 30-9 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Thursday.

Veteran Dennis Kelly is expected to replace Conklin, and Anthony Firkser will
step in for Smith.

--The Detroit Lions placed veteran defensive end Ziggy Ansah on injured
reserve because of a shoulder injury. The team did the same with tight end
Michael Roberts, who also has an injured shoulder.

To replace them on the roster, the Lions signed tight end Jerome Cunningham
and offensive lineman Leo Koloamatangi from their practice squad.

Ansah, 29, has had a lost season while playing on the franchise tag. He hurt
his shoulder after 19 snaps in Week 1 and did not play again until Week 9.

--The Los Angeles Rams placed running back Malcolm Brown and cornerback
Dominique Hatfield on injured reserve.

Brown injured his collarbone earlier this month. Hatfield, primarily a special
teams player, needs surgery after injuring his left ankle Sunday.

--The Philadelphia Eagles' pursuit of a playoff spot grew more difficult when
they placed running back Corey Clement (knee) and defensive end Josh Sweat
(ankle) on injured reserve.

The Eagles signed running back Boston Scott and defensive end Daeshon Hall to
fill the voids on the roster, and they added cornerback Josh Hawkins to the
practice squad.

--Two years after tearing both patellar tendons on the same play, former
Houston Texans offensive tackle Derek Newton is back in the NFL after signing
a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints.

Newton, 31, spent the entire 2017 season on the Texans' physically unable to
perform list and was released by Houston eight months ago after failing a
physical. With the Saints, he replaces tackle Michael Ola, who went on injured
reserve due to a high ankle sprain.

--The Buffalo Bills placed starting linebacker Matt Milano and rookie
cornerback Taron Johnson on season-ending injured reserve. Milano had surgery
Monday to repair a broken left fibula. Johnson had surgery last week for a
shoulder injury that bothered him most of the season.

--The city of Oakland, Calif., filed a federal lawsuit against the Oakland
Raiders, the NFL and all other teams in the league. Oakland City Attorney
Barbara J. Parker announced the suit, which alleges antitrust violations and
breach of contract.

While the city does not demand that the Raiders be forced to remain in
Oakland, the seven-count filing in district court does seek restitution in the
form of lost revenue, remaining debt on renovations to the Oakland Coliseum,
court costs and fees, plus punitive damages.

The Raiders received league approval to relocate to Las Vegas in March 2017.
They are expected to begin playing in Las Vegas when a new stadium opens in
2020. The team still does not know where it will play in 2019.

--The NFL announced that the salary cap will rise to about $190 million in
2019, a jump from $177.2 million this season.

The league informed teams that the projected range is from $187 million to
$191.1 million. That marks a 40 percent increase since the 2014 season ($133
million) and the sixth consecutive year the cap has climbed by at least $10
million.

--Field Level Media