Roethlisberger is looking like a starter

Ben Roethlisberger, four days removed from a concussion caused by a painful helmet-by-helmet hit in Atlanta, took most of the snaps with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting offense Thursday and looked ready to play Sunday in Oakland.

“I’m very encouraged by how he feels,” Coach Bill Cowher said.

Roethlisberger acknowledged that he was jolted by the jaw-jamming hit he received from Atlanta Falcons defensive end Chauncey Davis that knocked him out for a few minutes during the third quarter and forced him to leave the Steelers’ 41-38 overtime loss.

But Roethlisberger looked comfortable and relaxed in practice. Cowher said a final decision on the quarterback’s status won’t be made until game time Sunday, mostly because Roethlisberger must pass more of the post-concussion tests he takes daily.

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Casey Hampton rattled off several expletives while complaining that Atlanta guard Tyson Clabo intentionally tried to hurt him with a block to the back of his legs.

“I can’t tell you what I told him, but it was all dirty, man,” Hampton said. “That’s like you have no respect for the game. You’re just out there trying to hurt somebody, and I’m out there trying to make a living. I was real, real mad, and I let him know I was real mad too.”

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Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Todd Haley is suing a suburban McDonald’s, claiming his wife and the family’s live-in baby sitter found a dead rat in a salad they took home and began to eat.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in state district court seeks $1.7 million in damages, the Dallas Morning News reported.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich sat out practice because of his sore left ankle, increasing the chances that backup David Garrard will start at Philadelphia. Leftwich is listed as questionable on the injury report.

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The New York Giants put linebacker LaVar Arrington on injured reserve and signed defensive end Adrian Awasom from the practice squad. Arrington tore his left Achilles’ tendon Monday night in a 36-22 victory over Dallas.

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Indianapolis defensive tackle Montae Reagor said he is “resting and feeling fine” after surgery to repair a facial fracture caused by an automobile accident before Sunday’s game against Washington at the RCA Dome.

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A judge has ordered Tennessee Titans linebacker Robert Reynolds to appear in court Monday to answer misdemeanor charges that he pushed his estranged wife during a fight over the weekend. Bond for Reynolds was set at $5,000.

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Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams sat out practice, a day after returning following a sprained right ankle. He is questionable for Sunday’s game against Dallas.

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Cleveland offensive tackle Ryan Tucker sat out practice because of what Coach Romeo Crennel termed “a medical illness” that could keep him out of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.