Roethlisberger may be out 4-6 weeks

Ben Roethlisberger left Heinz Field on Monday night with his sprained right shoulder in a sling. When he walks back in ready to play is anybody's guess.

Coach Mike Tomlin called Pittsburgh's franchise quarterback "questionable" but otherwise offered little detail Tuesday, less than 24 hours after Roethlisberger was pounded into the ground by Kansas City Chiefs linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston in the third quarter of Pittsburgh's 16-13 overtime victory.

"He is being evaluated," Tomlin said. "Obviously this injury puts his participation in the questionable category for this week."

Roethlisberger left the game and went to the hospital to for an MRI-exam. He underwent more tests on Tuesday to determine the severity of the sprain to the sternoclavicular (SC) joint in his throwing shoulder.

The SC joint connects the collarbone to the sternum. Treatment can range from a few days of rest and ice to as much as 4-6 weeks according to Dr. Victor Khabie, chief of sports medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

If Roethlisberger can't play, the Steelers (6-3) will turn veteran backup Byron Leftwich, who completed 7 of 14 passes for 73 yards in relief as Pittsburgh won its fourth straight game thanks to Shaun Suisham's 23-yard field goal 51 seconds into the extra period.

The 32-year-old Leftwich hasn't started a game since 2009, when he went 0-3 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Governor objects to Vikings using PSLs

Gov. Mark Dayton criticized the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday for considering extra fees on season ticket holders as a way to help cover the team's share of a new $975 million stadium, but the team's owners point out that option was a key part of the deal.

The Democratic governor and Vikings management were allies during the long path to approving plans for a new, publicly subsidized stadium that were approved by lawmakers this year. But in a letter to team owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, Dayton said he strongly opposed "shifting any part of the team's responsibility for those costs onto Minnesota Vikings fans. This Private Contribution is your responsibility, not theirs."

But the Vikings aren't backing down. The team responded to Dayton's letter with a statement saying permission to sell so-called stadium builder's licenses was a "key component" of legislation that was "vetted by the Legislature, testified to by Vikings and state of Minnesota negotiators" and signed by the governor.

Many NFL teams that built new stadiums in recent years have relied on such fees, also called personal seat licenses, that are usually a one-time charge on top of the cost of a season ticket. The Star Tribune reported this week that the Vikings had raised the prospect in a survey recently emailed to season ticket holders.

The stadium deal struck earlier this year between the state, Minneapolis and the Vikings requires the team to pay slightly more than half of the nearly billion-dollar price tag.

The stadium bill, which Dayton signed into law in May, does include language that allows "stadium builder's licenses," but the Vikings would face a significant hurdle if they try to levy such a fee. Any such arrangement must be approved by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, a five-member panel created to oversee stadium construction and operations.

That panel includes three members appointed by Dayton and two by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. A spokesman said Tuesday that Rybak agrees with Dayton and is "one thousand percent opposed" to seat licenses.

Ex-Seahawks TE Stevens arrested for fight with Hope Solo

Former Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens was arrested on suspicion of assaulting U.S. women's soccer team goalkeeper Hope Solo a day before their planned wedding day, according to police and court records.

A Kirkland, Wash., Municipal Court judge released Stevens after a court appearance Tuesday, saying there was no evidence connecting Stevens to any assault, according to news reports. He was arrested early Monday for fourth-degree domestic violence assault but has not been charged.

The judge determined there was not enough to hold Stevens, but the case is still under investigation, Kirkland Police Lt. Mike Murray said Tuesday. Charges could be brought later if prosecutors and police find other evidence, he said.

Solo appeared in the courtroom Tuesday afternoon, but left without saying anything to reporters, according to KING-TV.

A call to a number listed for Stevens in court documents rang unanswered. A message left at a listed number for Solo was not immediately returned.

Stevens, 33, and Solo, 31, applied for a marriage license Thursday, according to King County records.

The two, who have been in a relationship for two months, were set to get married Tuesday and argued over whether to live in Washington or Florida after their marriage, according to court documents.

Around the league

Vikings • A grand jury in Houston has dismissed a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge against running back Adrian Peterson after hearing from the four-time Pro Bowler and other witnesses. Derek Hollingsworth, one of Peterson's attorneys, said Tuesday the case stemming from Peterson's July 7 arrest outside a night club is expected to be formally dropped on Wednesday. Peterson, a native of Palestine, Texas, was handcuffed and briefly jailed after the confrontation outside the club with an off-duty police officer. He was released on a $1,000 bond. Police said Peterson shoved the officer, who was working security and asked Peterson and his companions to leave the club, which was closed. Peterson said in court a week after the incident that he "didn't push, shove, touch anything to anyone that night, especially an officer."

Bears • Chicago signed veteran backup quarterback Josh McCown with Jay Cutler's status for this week uncertain. Cutler sat out the second half of Sunday's loss to Houston with a concussion. Jason Campbell took over and is expected to start Monday at San Francisco if Cutler can't go. But the Bears needed a backup. —

Week 11 schedule

Thursday

Miami at Buffalo, 6:20 p.m., NFL Network

Sunday

Cleveland at Dallas, 11 a.m.

N.Y. Jets at St. Louis, 11 a.m.

Jacksonville at Houston, 11 a.m.

Cincinnati at Kansas City, 11 a.m.

Philadelphia at Washington, 11 a.m.

Green Bay at Detroit, 11 a.m.

Arizona at Atlanta, 11 a.m.

Tampa Bay at Carolina, 11 a.m.

New Orleans at Oakland, 2:05 p.m.

San Diego at Denver, 2:25 p.m.

Indianapolis at New England, 2:25 p.m.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 6:20 p.m., Ch. 5

Open: Minnesota, N.Y. Giants, Seattle, Tennessee

Monday

Chicago at San Francisco, 6:30 p.m., ESPN