The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Steelers coach Bill Cowher's message for any Pittsburgh Steelers player fretting that rookie Ben Roethlisberger now is the starting quarterback: Don't worry about him, worry about yourself.

Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger reacts after throwing the first touchdown of his career in the third quarter against the Ravens Sunday. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)

The Steelers' play during their 30-13 loss Sunday in Baltimore was so deficient that the early-season move from injured starter Tommy Maddox to Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh's first-round draft choice this year out of Miami, isn't atop Cowher's long list of concerns.

"I think it is not so much what we are doing with Ben, it is that everyone around him right now has to make sure that they hold up their end of the bargain," Cowher said Tuesday. "I think Ben will be fine. No one has to do anything special."

Maddox won't throw for about six weeks because of ligament and tendon tears in his right elbow.

On Tuesday, the Steelers brought back Mike Quinn as their No. 3 quarterback - the same role he had in 1997 - by adding him to the practice squad. Brian St. Pierre, who began the season on the practice squad, is now No. 2.

BRONCOS: Defensive end Trevor Pryce will have surgery today to remove a disc fragment from his lower back. He's expected to be out four to six weeks, the first significant time he'll miss due to injury in his eight-year career.

49ERS: Two-time Pro Bowl center Jeremy Newberry underwent surgery on his right knee.

Newberry developed a cartilage problem in the knee during training camp and had surgery in August but returned to start the season opener. He missed Sunday's game against New Orleans, and the 49ers do not know when he will return.

MONDAY NIGHT: Minnesota coach Mike Tice said he wishes he would have challenged Terrell Owens' touchdown catch during Monday night's loss to Philadelphia.

"But that's all hindsight now," Tice said Tuesday.

Owens hauled in a 45-yard pass from Donovan McNabb to put the Eagles ahead 24-9 with 7:48 left in the fourth quarter, but replays showed Owens might not have had full possession as he landed in the end zone and rolled out of bounds.

Philadelphia's David Akers kicked the extra point before Minnesota's assistants had a chance to see a replay in the booth.

"Obviously if I knew what I knew now, I would have thrown the flag," Tice said.

The Eagles went on to win 27-16.

VIKINGS: The Minnesota Court of Appeals refused to reinstate a lawsuit against the team for the actions of its trainers before the death of lineman Korey Stringer. The appellate court agreed with a Hennepin County judge, who dismissed the lawsuit in April 2003 on grounds that trainers didn't commit gross negligence in Stringer's death from heat stroke in 2001.

BROWNS: Kellen Winslow Jr., who underwent surgery on his broken right leg Tuesday, could miss out on a $5.3 million roster bonus because he got hurt, ESPN.com reported.

Under terms of the six-year, $40 million performance-laden contract he signed in August, Winslow, a rookie tight end, must participate in 35 percent of Cleveland's offensive plays to receive the one-time bonus, to be paid in 2005.

It's unclear whether there is a medical provision to protect Winslow in case of injury.

Winslow's agent, Kevin Poston, did not return a call seeking comment. Browns spokeswoman Lisa Levine said the team's policy is not to discuss any contract details.

Winslow is expected to miss at least two months.

JETS: Linebacker Sam Cowart has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and could miss four to six weeks.

BEARS: Chicago placed Mike Brown on injured reserve. The Bears on Monday announced the safety would miss the rest of the season after tearing an Achilles' tendon against Green Bay Sunday.

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