Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back DeAngelo Williams were ruled out for Sunday’s divisional-round playoff game at the Denver Broncos.
The Steelers listed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as questionable on Friday’s injury report with a sprained AC joint and ligament damage in his right shoulder. Roethlisberger threw the ball briefly on Friday.
Roethlisberger and Brown (concussion) were injured in the brutally physical 18-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals last Saturday night, and both came on hits from linebacker Vontaze Burfict.
With Brown out and Williams still sidelined with an injured foot, it will be the first time in NFL playoff history that a team takes the field without its regular-season leader in receiving and rushing.
–The New England Patriots officially listed tight end Rob Gronkowski as questionable — along with 11 other players — for Saturday’s divisional-round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Gronkowski returned to practice Friday as a limited participant after missing Thursday’s session to get treatment on his knee and back.
Twelve players were listed by the Patriots as questionable on Friday’s injury report, including wide receiver Julian Edelman and defensive end Chandler Jones. Edelman is expected to play for the first time since breaking a bone in his foot in Week 10. Jones made headlines after walking to the police station confused and seeking medical attention last Sunday.
Wide receiver Danny Amendola, tight end Scott Chandler, cornerback Justin Coleman, defensive back Nate Ebner, linebacker Jonathan Freeny, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, defensive end Rob Ninkovich, tackle Sebastian Vollmer and tackle LaAdrian Waddle are the others listed as questionable.
Guard Tre’ Jackson has been ruled out with a knee injury.
–Starting center Mitch Morse is out for the second consecutive playoff game but Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid gave four other key players a shot to play Saturday at New England in the divisional playoff game against the Patriots.
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (ankle), outside linebackers Tamba Hali (thumb, knee) and Justin Houston (knee) and running back Spencer Ware (ankle) are officially questionable, meaning they have a 50-50 chance to play.
–Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams was officially ruled out of Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game at Arizona with a sprained MCL in his right knee.
Tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) was also ruled out and subsequently placed on injured reserve, while cornerbacks Sam Shields (concussion) and rookie Quinten Rollins (quadriceps) were listed as questionable.
–Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has made it clear he will not miss Sunday’s divisional-round playoff game against the Carolina Panthers
Lynch, who has missed the past eight games with an abdominal injury, is listed as probable on Friday’s injury report.
–Dirk Koetter was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Koetter made a significant hire on Friday when he announced that former Atlanta Falcons head coach will be the Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator.
–Joe Philbin, who was fired as the Miami Dolphins head coach on Oct. 5, was hired as the Indianapolis Colts offensive line coach, the Colts announced.
–Jim Caldwell will return as head coach of the Detroit Lions.
New general manager Bob Quinn spent his first week on the job considering Caldwell, who remained during Lions owner Martha Ford’s in-season housecleaning that claimed president Tom Lewand, general manager Martin Mayhew and three assistant coaches. The Lions were 7-9 this season.
–Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has apparently avoided millions in buyout obligation to Chip Kelly, who was hired Thursday as the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
Kelly, who was fired in his third season as coach of the Eagles with one week to go in the regular season, will receive a four-year deal worth $24 million from the 49ers, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Eagles owe Kelly about $13 million over the next two years, but that total will be offset by the deal Kelly signs with San Francisco, a league source told ESPN’s Darren Rovell.
–The Cincinnati Bengals promoted Ken Zampese to offensive coordinator and hired Jim Haslett as linebackers coach, the team announced.
–New Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson has retained special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, the team announced.
–Red McCombs, former owner of the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Vikings, is lobbying to move the Oakland Raiders to San Antonio.
The Texas billionaire, speaking to radio station KZDC-AM 1250 on Tuesday, said he is attempting to convince Raiders owner Mark Davis to move to the Alamo City.
–ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen is taking a break from the network as he begins treatments for throat cancer.
–The Minnesota Vikings signed cornerback Melvin White to a reserve/future contract.