Ben Roethlisberger's fourth concussion since 2006 apparently won't put him on the bench.

Roethlisberger will play Sunday in Baltimore as long as he continues to pass postconcussion tests, coach Mike Tomlin said yesterday. The tests measure a player's memory and reflexes, among other factors, before and after he has been injured.

"He felt normal. He felt fine," Tomlin said of Roethlisberger's first round of testing. "The battery of tests that he took showed that he had no symptoms. We'll continue to monitor his condition and where he is on a day-to-day basis and let that guide our decision-making."

Roethlisberger's head inadvertently struck the knee of the Chiefs' Derrick Johnson while he was being dropped for a 1-yard loss in overtime during Pittsburgh's 27-24 loss in Kansas City on Sunday.

If Roethlisberger can't play, second-year player Dennis Dixon would get the start. Backup Charlie Batch broke his left wrist after replacing Roethlisberger Sunday and will have surgery today.

Noteworthy

 

* Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a wide-ranging memo about concussions to NFL teams, saying the co-chairmen of the league's committee on brain injuries have resigned and that he is examining potential rule changes "to reduce head impacts."

Goodell wrote that Dr. Ira Casson and Dr. David Viano, who have led the league committee on concussions since 2007, "have graciously offered to resign from those positions and to continue to assist the committee in its important work."

Goodell said he wants to add new members "who will bring to the committee independent sources of expertise and experience in the field of head injuries."

* A person familiar with Buffalo's search for a coach said the Bills consider two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan a legitimate candidate. Shanahan was fired in December with the Broncos owing him about $20 million over the final 3 years of his contract. It is believed that the Bills would have to at least match what Shanahan is owed if they intend to make a competitive offer. Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was promoted to interim coach when Dick Jauron was fired last week.

* Byron Leftwich's season is over after Tampa Bay put the backup quarterback on injured reserve with a sore right elbow. Tampa Bay also announced that it had signed quarterback Rudy Carpenter from the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad.

* Cowboys tight end Jason Witten might miss tomorrow's game against Oakland because of a sprained foot. He was hurt in the second quarter of Dallas' win over Washington on Sunday.

In other news, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he is tired of hearing the NFL apologize for officiating mistakes. Dallas was on the wrong end of plays involving replay in its last two games. Phillips said he spoke with NFL officiating director Mike Pereira about it, and that Pereira is upset, too, because these errors go beyond judgment calls about things like holding or pass interference.

* New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs says his right leg feels "really good" and he should play against Denver tomorrow. He missed the fourth quarter and overtime in the win over Atlanta Sunday after he was tackled on a 5-yard run in the third quarter.

In other news, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw is wearing a protective boot on his sprained left ankle, and it is uncertain whether he will play.

* Detroit practiced without quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Stafford's left shoulder was dislocated in Sunday's win against Cleveland. Johnson has hand and knee injuries.

* Carolina placed linebacker Landon Johnson on injured reserve and signed linebacker Jordan Senn. Johnson hurt his medial collateral ligament in Thursday's loss to Miami.

* Green Bay signed former Denver cornerback Josh Bell to replace Al Harris, who had a season-ending knee injury in Sunday's win over San Francisco.

* Atlanta, looking for an alternative to slumping kicker Jason Elam, brought in Steve Hauschka, Sam Swant and Shane Andrus and former Georgia standout Brandon Coutu to their practice facility for tryouts.

* Washington owner Dan Snyder remains disappointed in his team's performance this season. Just don't ask him whether changes are on the way. For the second time in less than a month, Snyder made in-season comments at a charity event. After handing out turkeys at the team's stadium, he told reporters, "We're all very, very disappointed, and obviously I'm as disappointed as everyone. And we're hoping to get things straightened out in the near future." The Redskins are 3-7.