NFL notebook: Steelers’ Roethlisberger has torn meniscus

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sunday night Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a torn meniscus in his left knee and will have surgery Monday morning. There is no timetable for his return to the team.

Roethlisberger was injured midway through the second quarter of a 30-15 loss Sunday to the Miami Dolphins when he stepped out of a tackle try by defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and hyperextended the knee. His subsequent pass on the play was intercepted by safety Reshad Jones.

Roethlisberger immediately went to the locker room and missed the rest of the first half but returned to play the second half.

The Steelers play the New England Patriots on Sunday at Heinz Field and then have their off week. It is possible he could return to play Nov. 6 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Landry Jones, who replaced Roethlisberger in the second quarter, is expected to get the start against the Patriots.

Ajayi runs for 204 yards for Dolphins

Jay Ajayi talked with his offensive line before Sunday’s game about his yardage objective, and at the time the numbers discussed seemed outrageously optimistic.

After all, the Miami Dolphins’ second-year pro out of Boise State had never had a 100-yard day.

“I told him before the game, ‘Let’s go for a couple of hundred,’” guard Jermon Bushrod said. “He said 150. And I said, ‘No, a couple of hundred.’”

Ajayi met the goal by crossing it. He ran 62 yards for a touchdown on his final carry, pushing his total to 204 yards and punctuating the Dolphins’ 30-15 victory over the Steelers.

It was by far the most impressive victory for the Dolphins under first-year coach Adam Gase. Their only other win came in overtime against woeful Cleveland.

“No one likes losing week after week,” Ajayi said. “We were determined to come out this week and put a stop to that.”

Ajayi became the first NFL rusher this year to top 160 yards. He joined Ricky Williams as the only Dolphins to rush for at least 200 yards and two scores in a game.

Ajayi carried a career-high 25 times, and his other touchdown came on a 1-yard run. He became the Dolphins’ first 200-yard rusher since Reggie Bush in 2011.

Afterward, he said the milestone was still stinking in.

“In the NFL, probably that’s a big thing,” Ajayi said. “It hasn’t hit me yet, but it’s a big deal. It’s something to cherish for sure.”

Newton too agitated to talk

It took Cam Newton nearly an hour to show up for his postgame interview after the Carolina Panthers’ fourth straight loss Sunday. He was in a much bigger hurry once he got there, walking out after 90 seconds of terse, sullen responses.

If there was any good news for the defending NFC champion Panthers (1-5), Newton resembled his old self during – and after – a 41-38 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Back from a concussion that sidelined him for a week, he rallied Carolina from a 21-0 deficit to tie the score in the fourth quarter. But he had a hard time handling the frustration of another tough defeat.

“We just have to find ways to win football games,” he said.

He did his best to reverse the slide, throwing for 322 yards and two touchdowns. He then ran 2 yards to bring the Panthers within 38-36 with 2:58 remaining before connecting with Devin Funchess on a tying 2-point conversion.

But he had to watch from the sideline as Drew Brees, who threw for 465 yards, guided the Saints to a winning 52-yard field goal with 11 seconds left.

Keenum sets Rams record

Case Keenum was picking apart the Detroit Lions, throwing short and accurate passes to set a Rams record with 19 straight completions.

Then, with the game on the line, he made a mistake that sealed the loss.

Keenum threw deep over the middle toward a well-covered Lance Kendricks and was picked off by Rafael Bush with 1:01 left , allowing the Lions to hold on for a 31-28 win.

“Just thought Lance had a little seam there,” Keenum said. “Tried to look off a safety.”

Bush said Keenum didn’t try hard enough to do that.

“I saw the quarterback staring and knew I just had to catch the ball,” Bush said.

McCoy runs it up on former coach

LeSean McCoy can finally come clean about the bitter feelings he once had toward 49ers coach Chip Kelly.

Yes, the Bills running back acknowledged he was stung by how Kelly, during his tenure coaching the Eagles, discarded McCoy by trading him to Buffalo in February 2014.

“To sit here and tell you that it didn’t affect me last year, I would be lying,” he said. “But I’m passed that.”

McCoy can put his emotions aside after getting his personal payback, when he matched a career high by scoring three touchdowns in a 45-16 win over the 49ers.

For McCoy, the 140-yard rushing performance was personal because it erased lingering questions whether the NFL’s 2013 rushing leader had lost a step last year.

“I think this is the first year that I’ve really been doubted, as in, ‘Is this kid good or is he not good?’” McCoy said. “Yeah, it can definitely drive you.”

McCoy is on a roll having combined for 470 yards rushing and six touchdowns (including one receiving) over his past four games.