The Latest: Steelers' Roethlisberger out, Vick steps in
By The Associated Press, Associated Press
Sep 27, 2015 2:32 PM CDT
New Orleans Saints' Luke McCown (7) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)   (Associated Press)

The Latest from NFL stadiums around the country on the third Sunday of the season (all times EDT):

3:25 p.m.

Ben Roethlisberger is out and Michael Vick has replaced him.

Roethlisberger was carted off after injuring his left knee on a sack in the third quarter against the Rams and the Steelers say he will no return.

Pittsburgh has given the ball to Vick, who made his first appearance of the season late in the third. He completed a short pass on third down before the Steelers punted.

— R.B. Fallstrom reporting from St. Louis

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2:57 p.m.

Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota tied the NFL record for most touchdown passes through his first three games.

Mariota's 3-yard TD toss to Dorial Green-Beckham in the third quarter against Indianapolis was his eighth this season, tying Mark Rypien's record set in 1988 with Washington. Mariota had six TD passes in the first two games. He connected with Kendall Wright on a 7-yard TD pass late in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck set a new low Sunday with eight pass attempts, the fewest of his career in any half. Luck had thrown 12 passes in a half twice before in his career, according to STATS LLC.

Luck is 16-2 against the AFC South since entering the NFL in 2012. He is trying to tie Peyton Manning for most consecutive wins (14) in division games since realignment if he can remain undefeated against Tennessee.

— Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tennessee

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2:48 p.m.

Here's one way to find yourself in the head coach's doghouse.

Panthers gunner Teddy Williams failed to return to the field of play while covering a Carolina punt, costing his team 15 yards — and much more. Instead of pinning the Saints at the 9, Josh Nortman was forced to punt again from 15 yards back.

On the re-kick, Saints returner Marcus Murphy fielded Nortman's punt and went 74 yards for a touchdown to give the visiting Saints a 16-10 lead.

—Steve Reed reporting from Charlotte, North Carolina

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2:43 p.m.

Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes left the game against San Diego because of a head injury after a scary collision with teammate Andrew Sendejo.

Rhodes was hurt late in the second quarter on a touchdown catch by Keenan Allen, who was open between Rhodes and Sendejo near the left sideline for a 34-yard gain.

Rhodes stretched out to try to corral Allen, when Sendejo approached from the side and inadvertently smacked into Rhodes' face with his chest, bending Rhodes' neck backward. Rhodes fell to the turf, motionless for a few moments, before slowly getting up and being helped off the field.

The Vikings announced Rhodes as questionable to return. He was replaced in the third quarter by rookie Trae Waynes.

— Dave Campbell reporting from Minneapolis

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2:30 p.m.

New England quarterback Tom Brady has thrown his 400th career touchdown pass, hitting Danny Amendola on a 1-yard pass just before halftime of the Patriots game against Jacksonville.

Brady joins Peyton Manning (533 entering Sunday), Brett Favre (508) and Dan Marino (420) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to reach the milestone.

— Pat Eaton-Robb reporting from Foxborough, Massachusetts.

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2:05 p.m.

It didn't take long for Browns fans to scream for Johnny Manziel.

With Cleveland's offense sputtering in the first half against Oakland, starter Josh McCown overthrew tight end Gary Barnidge, prompting Bowns fans to begin chanting "John-ny! John-ny!" Manziel started for an injured McCown last week and led the Browns to a 28-14 win over Tennessee.

Meanwhile, Luke McCown has been solid in the early going managing the Saints offense, completing 14 of his first 15 passes for 100 yards. McCown, filling in for the injured Drew Brees, has relied mostly short check down passes to move the chains.

Nine different Saints have caught passes and Mark Ingram has scored on a 5-yard touchdown run as the Saints lead 10-0.

— Tom Withers reporting from Cleveland; Steve Reed reporting from Carolina.

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1:55 p.m.

Adrian Peterson has been back for three weeks now. But now we can say he's officially back.

Peterson plowed into the end zone on a 3-yard run against the San Diego Chargers in the second quarter on Sunday to give the Minnesota Vikings a 10-0 lead. It was his first touchdown since Nov. 24, 2013 at Green Bay.

Peterson missed all but one game last year while addressing child abuse charges in Texas.

Jon Krawczynski reporting from Minneapolis

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1:50 p.m.

Marcus Mariota finally has been intercepted in the NFL, and it was returned for a touchdown.

Mariota hit tight end Delanie Walker only to have the pass go off the veteran's hands and straight to Colts safety Dwight Lowery who returned the interception 69 yards for the touchdown. That gave the winless Colts a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans. The Colts have won seven straight and 12 of the last 13 in this series between AFC South rivals.

The rookie quarterback came in leading the NFL with a 129.9 passer rating with six touchdown passes in his first two games.

— Teresa M. Walker reporting from Nashville, Tennessee

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1:40 p.m.

Anytime you can best Merlin Olsen on the football field is noteworthy.

Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis is now in elite company, becoming the franchise's career leading tackler after surpassing the late Hall of Famer when he dragged down Le'Veon Bell following a 20-yard gain in the first quarter.

—R.B. Fallstrom reporting from St. Louis

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1:20 p.m.

The Dallas running game is finally moving without DeMarco Murray.

On the day Murray was inactive in Philadelphia with a hamstring injury, Joseph Randle had runs of 28 and 37 yards — the latter for a touchdown — on the Cowboys' first series against Atlanta. Those were the only two plays on an 80-yard drive that included a 15-yard facemask penalty against Falcons cornerback Robert Alford.

The Cowboys struggled with a 3.4-yard-per-carry average in the first two weeks without Murray, last year's NFL rushing champion.

— Schuyler Dixon reporting from Dallas

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1:05 p.m.

The Steelers-Rams game is being delayed after a corner of the field caught fire.

Yes, that is correct.

A corner of the field in caught fire during the Rams pre-game pyrotechnics show while introducing the starters.

The fire was quickly put out but both teams have left the field as crews cleaning things up, including removing fire extinguisher residue.

The game did get underway after the delay.

— Fallstrom reporting from St. Louis

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12:35 p.m.

The McCown brothers are both starting on the same day for the first time since 2007.

And Josh and Luke McCown are hoping for a different outcome this time: Each quarterback lost their respective games eight years ago.

This is the sixth time the McCowns — Luke is 36, two years older than his younger sibling — have started on the same day. Only once have they both won on that day.

Peyton and Eli Manning are the only other brother combination to pull off the feat.

Josh McCown is starting for Cleveland after returning from a concussion sustained on the season's opening drive. Luke McCown gets the nod for New Orleans with Drew Brees out rehabbing a shoulder injury.

— Tom Withers reporting from Cleveland

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12:15 p.m.

DeMarco Murray is a no-go for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The star running back was inactive for the Eagles' game against the New York Jets on Sunday with a strained hamstring. Murray, who had been listed as questionable, has struggled through two games with just 11 yards on 21 carries.

Ryan Mathews will start in Murray's place. Mathews has 4 yards on four carries in limited action.

Jets wide receiver Eric Decker is also inactive with a sprained left knee. Rookie Devin Smith, the team's second-round draft pick out of Ohio State, is making his NFL debut as Decker's replacement. Smith broke a few ribs and punctured a lung while making a catch early in training camp.

Quarterback Geno Smith is also active for the first time this season after having his jaw broken by a punch from then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali on Aug. 11.

— Dennis Waszak reporting from East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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