LATROBE, Pa. (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s right thumb injury apparently is not serious and he could play Saturday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

Roethlisberger missed the last few minutes of practice Wednesday after hitting his thumb on a shoulder pad, helmet or catching it in a jersey. Coach Bill Cowher said it was difficult to tell on video tape how the injury occurred.

Roethlisberger was examined before practice ended and returned for the conditioning and stretching drills that end each workout. He was held out of practice Thursday, and the team will decide Friday if he will play Saturday in the second of the Steelers’ four exhibition games.

“He feels better today than he did yesterday,” Cowher said Thursday. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. If he feels OK tomorrow, he’ll play Saturday. There’s no indication we have to do any kind of tests or anything.”

If Roethlisberger can’t play, backup Charlie Batch will start but won’t play any longer than the rest of the starters, or about one quarter.

Rookie Omar Jacobs and free agent Shane Boyd would play the rest of the way.

Last season, Roethlisberger injured the thumb Nov. 28 against the Colts and was listed as probable on the remaining injury updates the rest of the season.

He did not miss any games because of the injury, although Roethlisberger said it was painful.

Cowher said there is no indication this latest injury is related to last year’s. Despite breaking his jaw and nose in a June 12 motorcycle accident, Roethlisberger has missed no practice time since camp began July 28 and has thrown the ball increasingly well as camp has progressed, hitting on several deep passes early in practice Wednesday.

“He’s been fine, there’s been no problem with it this whole camp,” Cowher said.

“I mean, he’s been throwing the ball pretty good. At this point, all indications are this is day to day, so we’ll see how he feels.”

TE Stevens taken off field on cart

CHENEY, Wash. – Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens injured his left knee Thursday during practice.

Coach Mike Holmgren said Stevens fell on the knee during a team drill. Stevens walked off the field, was examined by trainers and was taken to the locker room in on a cart. He was expected to have an MRI later Thursday.

“It was the same knee he had surgery on, so we’re a little apprehensive,” Holmgren said of Stevens’ knee operation on April 25.

He emerged last season as a favorite target of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on third downs and near the goal line. He had career highs of 45 receptions and five touchdowns.

Stevens engaged in verbal sparring with Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter the week of the Super Bowl. He then struggled against the Steelers, dropping three passes during the Seahawks 21-10 loss.

Stevens was Seattle’s first-round draft choice in 2002.

Lions WR Rogers to miss preseason game

ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers will miss Friday’s preseason game against the Cleveland Browns with a knee injury.

After Thursday’s workout, coach Rod Marinelli said the fourth-year receiver would not play against the Browns. Rogers missed the last three days of practice with soreness in his knee.

Rogers is battling for a roster spot with rookie Shaun Bodiford and Glenn Martinez, who played in NFL Europe after spending most of last season on Detroit’s practice squad.

Rogers was an All-American at Michigan State before being selected second overall in the 2003 draft.

He scored two touchdowns in his first game, but has only four total.

He saw limited time in Detroit’s preseason opener, catching one pass, and had little action with the top offensive units in practice.

Pennington excused from Jets practice

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Jets quarterback Chad Pennington was excused from practice Thursday for personal reasons and his status for this weekend’s preseason game against Washington is uncertain.

Coach Eric Mangini said Pennington left because of a family illness. He wouldn’t say whether Pennington would travel to Washington with the team Friday or play against the Redskins on Saturday.

“I want Chad to make sure he’s able to focus on his family and take care of the things he needs to take care of,” Mangini said.

When asked whether they were preparing to play without Pennington, Mangini said: “We’re always preparing for the different contingencies that come up. We’ll follow it closely and adjust accordingly as we go.”

Pennington, coming off a second major shoulder injury, is in a four-way competition for the starting job with Patrick Ramsey, Kellen Clemens and Brooks Bollinger. Though Mangini hasn’t announced a starter, Pennington appears to be the favorite to win the job.