Roethlisberger bounces back

Ben Roethlisberger’s numbers looked exceptional for an exhibition, especially for only a half. He knows how much better he and the Pittsburgh Steelers could have played.

Roethlisberger, effective for only one drive previously in this preseason, passed for 247 yards before halftime to lead three Pittsburgh scoring drives and the Steelers shook off numerous mistakes to defeat the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, 27-13, Sunday night.

Roethlisberger didn’t pass for a score, but spread the ball among seven receivers and six caught at least one pass of 18 yards or longer. Running back Najeh Davenport had two long receptions totaling 58 yards and tight end Heath Miller, often absent in the offense, had two for 50 yards.

Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker, limited to four carries before Sunday because of a sore knee that sidelined him for two weeks of training camp, ran 18 yards for a score following Roethlisberger’s 22-yard completion to Santonio Holmes during a 13-point second quarter for Pittsburgh. Parker also caught three passes for 40 yards.

Roethlisberger hadn’t led a touchdown drive in seven series since the Aug. 5 exhibition opener and, on his opening series Sunday, was intercepted.

Many starters for both teams played most or all the first half, something that won’t happen when each team ends exhibition play Thursday. For the Steelers, a game at Carolina in which their regulars will be on the field only a series or two will end a very long preseason under new Coach Mike Tomlin that included five games and lasted seven weeks.

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, so efficient the week before in driving the Eagles’ starters to 10 points on four possessions in a 27-10 victory over Carolina, was lifted before halftime after going five for 11 for 60 yards. Correll Buckhalter ran for 43 yards in 10 carries.

Former first-round draft pick Chris Claiborne signed with Jacksonville, giving the Jaguars some much-needed depth at linebacker after backup Tony Gilbert was lost for the season.

The team placed Gilbert on injured reserve, three days after he tore a biceps muscle against Green Bay. Jacksonville also placed rookie defensive end Brian Smith on the physically unable to perform list.

The ninth pick by Detroit out of USC in 1999, Claiborne, 29, also played for Minnesota, St. Louis and the New York Giants.

Defensive end Dwight Freeney bruised his right thigh during the Indianapolis Colts’ exhibition victory over Detroit on Saturday and isn’t expected to play Friday at Cincinnati. . . . Marcus Ogden, the brother of Baltimore Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden, was among seven players waived by the Tennessee Titans.