Tommy Maddox, former Steelers quarterback, worked out for the Raiders on Wednesday, but the free agent has not been signed. Maddox was flown to the Bay Area for a brief visit to Raiders headquarters in Alameda, one day after he tried out with the Patriots, according to his agent, Vann McElroy.

Ben Roethlisberger had flu-like symptoms during the game that were unrelated to the appendectomy. Bill Cowher said reports that his quarterback had a 104-degree fever were erroneous and that, in fact, Roethlisberger's temperature was 100.4. Roethlisberger completed 17 of 32 passes for 141 yards and threw two interceptions. "When you go from pre-season to regular season, everybody's going through that period of acclimation to the speed of the game," Cowher said. "The speed does go up going into the regular season, but it does for the other team, as well. But when you come into it the second week of the season and (the opponent) already has been through that first week of acclimation, it's tough."

Wearing protective padding around his midsection, Ben Roethlisberger returned to Pittsburgh's lineup against the Jaguars on Monday night, barely two weeks after an emergency appendectomy. He was far from effective, though, and Jacksonville's defense had a lot to with that. The Jaguars harassed Roethlisberger, held Willie Parker to 20 yards on 11 carries and ended the defending Super Bowl champions' nine-game winning streak with a 9-0 victory -- the lowest-scoring game in Monday Night Football history.

Cleared medically 10 days after his appendectomy, Ben Roethlisberger will start at quarterback for the Steelers Monday night in Jacksonville provided he feels up to it and he can perform properly in practice this week, starting today. He has four practices to prove he is ready to play.

Bill Cowher may not decide until this weekend if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will start Monday night in Jacksonville, even if Roethlisberger already seems to have decided he is playing. Roethlisberger missed the Steelers' opening 28-17 victory over Miami on Thursday after having an appendectomy on Sept. 3. He is listed as questionable, meaning there is a 50-50 chance he will play against the Jaguars. The quarterback is convinced he will be ready for Monday's game.

Provided Najeh Davenport is healthy and can show his legs are still strong, Duce Staley's role may vanish. Davenport is a big, strong runner who has averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his career. The problems for him have been injuries, the same way they were a problem for a former big back with the Steelers, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala. They may keep Staley around because they have to pay his full salary of $1.5 million anyway and as insurance in case Davenport or another back is hurt.

For the second consecutive year, all 16 games of the NFL's Kickoff Weekend have sold out in advance of the local TV blackout deadline, enabling every game to be televised in the home-team market, the NFL announced. The Miami at Pittsburgh game on Sept. 7 was sold out and televised by NBC's Pittsburgh affiliate WPXI-TV. This will be the third Kickoff Weekend in NFL history to have blackouts lifted for all games. They were lifted on the weekend of Sept. 6-7 in 1998, and last year on Sept. 8, 11-12.

Former Packers running back Najeh Davenport signed with the Steelers on Friday. Davenport, who has rushed for 1,068 yards in 39 NFL games, missed most of last season after breaking an ankle Oct. 9 against New Orleans. The 6-foot-1, 247-pounder was released last weekend by Green Bay. Davenport is expected to give the Steelers a power running back in the mold of the retired Jerome Bettis.

The Steelers needed two big plays from unlikely sources to pull out a season-opening victory behind their backup quarterback. Maybe Dolphins coach Nick Saban should be flagged for a costly delay, too. Tight end Heath Miller chugged his way down the Steelers' sideline on an 87-yard touchdown pass play midway through the fourth quarter, fill-in QB Charlie Batch's third scoring pass of the game, and the Super Bowl champions beat the Dolphins 28-17 Thursday night in the NFL's first game of the season. Ronnie Brown scored two touchdowns, but rushed for just 30 yards on 15 carries.

A near-death experience could not keep Ben Roethlisberger from missing the Steelers' season opener. His appendix will. A sudden ailment leaves the NFL's season opener on Thursday without its biggest star, and forces the Steelers to turn to Charlie Batch in their first meaningful game since winning the Super Bowl as they try to spoil Daunte Culpepper's debut with the Dolphins. "This is the situation we are being dealt and we are not asking for any pity nor are we going to make any excuses," Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said after learning Roethlisberger would miss at least one game after needing an emergency appendectomy Sunday.