text: Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger out with injuries - SFGate
  https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Drew-Brees-Ben-Roethlisberger-out-with-injuries-14444992.php
  Updated 8:41 pm PDT, Monday, September 16, 2019
  Two playoff contenders got the news every team dreads Monday: a serious injury that will keep their starting quarterback out.
  For the Steelers, the news was worse. Ben Roethlisberger will need surgery on his elbow, head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. Roethlisberger is out for the season.
  The Saints' Drew Brees will be out about six weeks recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his throwing hand, NFL Network and other news outlets reported.
  Roethlisberger, 37, has been synonymous with the Steelers for a decade and a half, starting at least 11 games every season since his rookie year of 2004. He has missed significant time twice in his career. He served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy in 2010 after he was accused of sexual assault. Police in Georgia decided not to charge him in the case. He also sat out four games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in 2015. He led the team to Super Bowl victories after the 2005 and 2008 regular seasons.
  He did not return for the second half against the Seahawks on Sunday after his elbow was hurt. The team lost 28-26.
  "This is shocking and heartbreaking for me," Roethlisberger said in a statement Monday, "to miss this much of a season and feel like I am letting down so many people. I can only trust God's plan, but I am completely determined to battle through this challenge and come back stronger than ever next season."
  An elbow injury is expected to keep Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out of action for the rest of the season.
  The Steelers (0-2) play the 49ers in Santa Clara on Sunday. Pittsburgh will go with quarterback Mason Rudolph, a third-round pick out of Oklahoma State a year ago. He didn't get into any games last season as the third-stringer but was promoted to second string this year and fared well in his unexpected debut, going 12-for-19 for 112 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
  Like Roethlisberger, Brees has been especially durable over a long and productive career. Every year for the past 13, he started 15 or 16 games for the Saints. That time included the Saints' only Super Bowl win, after the 2009 season.
  In the first quarter of a 27-9 loss to the Rams on Sunday, as he threw a pass, Brees' hand made contact with the hand of defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
  After the game, Brees said he did not know the extent of his injury, but said: "It's very difficult. It's very difficult not to be playing. I'm not used to that. I don't want to get used to that.
  "You hit your hands on stuff all the time, right? ... This felt like something a bit more significant and prevented me from gripping the ball."
  The Saints will turn to Teddy Bridgewater, who started one game last season. He was last a regular starter with the Vikings in 2015, when he made the Pro Bowl. But he missed 2016 with a serious leg injury and did not get his job back. Bridgewater was 17-for-30 for 165 yards subbing for Brees on Sunday. He had no touchdown passes or interceptions.
  Another option for the Saints is Taysom Hill, a quarterback from Brigham Young who is nominally the third-stringer but who has been playing a variety of roles for the team, including rushing and catching passes. Hill completed 3 of 7 pass attempts for the team in 2018.
  Ramsey wants out: Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey has requested a trade following a sideline argument with Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone, and the Jaguars are willing to entertain offers. Ramsey and Marrone got into a heated exchange in the team's 13-12 loss at Houston on Sunday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
  Fitzpatrick traded: Miamisafety Minkah Fitzpatrick got his wish when he was traded to the Steelers for a first-round draft pick in 2020, two people familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The teams also will swap late-round picks. Fitzpatrick was displeased with his role in Miami. The rebuilding Dolphins (0-2), who have purged their roster to accumulate draft picks, now have three first-round choices in 2020. While putting a priority on the future, they've been outscored 102-10 in their two games.
  Briefly: Chargers safety Adrian Phillips broke his right forearm Sunday against Detroit and will be out for an extended period. ... The Giants claimed former Stanford tight end Kaden Smith on waivers from the 49ers and released running back Paul Perkins. ... Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich said he still wants 46-year-old Adam Vinatieri to be his kicker. In his 24th season, the kicker has missed five of eight kicks in his first two games, including three extra points, matching his career worst for a season.