Lions fire offensive coordinator and line coaches after falling to 1-6

The Detroit Lions fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive line coaches Jeremiah Washburn and Terry Heffernan on Monday, a day after the team fell to 1-6 with a listless performance in a 28-19 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Coach Jim Caldwell had given no indication that major changes were imminent in his Monday news conference, but the team announced the dismissals a few hours later. Quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter will take over as offensive coordinator. Detroit faces Kansas City on Sunday in London.

Blocking problems have plagued the Lions all season, limiting quarterback Matthew Stafford’s effectiveness and the running game’s productivity. Stafford was sacked seven times against the Vikings.

Stafford suffered an injury to his left hand, but X-rays Monday were negative and he is expected to play this week. Defensive back Rashean Mathis was cleared after going through the concussion protocol.

Roethlisberger likely to play

All signs point to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s return to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lineup for an AFC North home game this week against unbeaten Cincinnati. Coach Mike Tomlin said the two-time Super Bowl winner, who missed four games with a sprained knee and bruised leg, had been “close” to starting the team’s 23-13 loss at Kansas City. Tomlin said he felt good about Roethlisberger’s availability against Cincinnati, but cautioned that the quarterback still has to go through a week of practice.

NFL appeals Brady decision

NFL lawyers have told a federal appeals court in New York that a judge made “unfathomable” findings to justify lifting New England quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension in the Deflategate controversy. In papers filed late Monday, the attorneys asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan to conclude that a lower-court judge was mistaken when he reversed a penalty that was supposed to keep Brady out of the first four games of this season. The appeals court isn’t scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case before February, meaning this season will not be affected by any outcome.

Hardy won’t be disciplined

Dallas Coach Jason Garrett said defensive end Greg Hardy won’t be disciplined for a sideline tirade that included a physical confrontation with special teams coach Rich Bisaccia Sunday. Garrett, whose team is 2-4, said the heated exchange that also involved receiver Dez Bryant and other players was “not a big deal from anybody inside our football team.” Hardy, in his second game after a four-game suspension for his role in a domestic violence case, barged into the special teams huddle after Dwayne Harris’ 100-yard kickoff return for the winning points in the fourth quarter of the New York Giants’ 27-20 victory.

Etc.

Houston running back Arian Foster is out for the season with an Achilles tendon injury, confirming initial reports after Foster was injured Sunday during the Texans’ 44-26 loss to Miami. Foster also missed the first three games of the season after tearing his groin muscle in training camp. . . . Cleveland quarterback Josh McCown hurt his right shoulder during Sunday’s loss to St. Louis, an injury that could keep him out of this week’s game against Arizona and create a starting opportunity for backup Johnny Manziel. . . . Minnesota center John Sullivan underwent a second surgery on his back, and Coach Mike Zimmer said the chances of his playing again this season were “minimal.”