Tuesday's Sports in Brief

Here's a look at Tuesday's sports in brief around the country.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger underwent an MRI exam on his injured right shoulder, and the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t know if he can play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts until they get the results.

Roethlisberger, whose throwing shoulder was slightly separated in the first game of the season, was injured on a quarterback sneak near the end of the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 23-6 victory in Washington on Monday night.

Roethlisberger did not play the rest of the game. Byron Leftwich, in his first extensive action for the Steelers, replaced Roethlisberger to throw a touchdown pass while leading two TD drives in the second half.

With Roethlisberger’s status for Sunday uncertain, the Steelers (6-2) may give Leftwich his first start since last Nov. 18 with Atlanta.

Roethlisberger has started 38 of the Steelers’ last 39 games, missing only a season-ending loss at Baltimore last season that didn’t affect the team’s playoff position.

Unless Roethlisberger’s injury heals in a hurry during a shortened week of preparation, the Steelers may need Leftwich to bail them out again.

A former first-round pick and starter in Jacksonville, Leftwich spent last season with the Falcons after being cut by the Jaguars.

Leftwich’s mobility doesn’t match Roethlisberger’s, but his arm may be as good or better. Surprisingly, Leftwich was out of the league when NFL training camps opened and signed with Pittsburgh only after former backup Charlie Batch broke his collarbone Aug. 8. Batch is out for the season.

DANA POINT, Calif. (AP) — A.J. Burnett told the Toronto Blue Jays he will opt out of the remaining two seasons of his $55 million, five-year contract.

The pitcher will forfeit $24 million and can file for free agency. His contract called for a $6 million signing bonus, a $1 million salary in 2006 and $12 million in the remaining seasons.

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said talks will continue on the possibility of a new deal for the hard-throwing right-hander, who turns 32 in January.

Burnett went 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA in 34 starts this season and led the American League with 231 strikeouts. He went 10-8 in each of his first two seasons with Toronto, and injuries limited him to 21 starts in 2006 and 25 the following year.

With pitching scarce, Burnett figures to be a target for high-revenue teams such as the New York Yankees and Mets, and the Boston Red Sox. His agent, Darek Braunecker, left open the possibility of re-signing with Toronto.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, on the verge of becoming the NHL’s all-time winningest goaltender, will be sidelined until at least February after tearing a distal biceps in his left elbow last weekend.

The 36-year-old Brodeur will undergo surgery on Thursday.

He was injured Saturday against Atlanta making a second-period glove save on a shot that was wide of the net.

Brodeur stayed in the game for another minute before being replaced by Kevin Weekes, who will take over for the 15-year veteran who has led New Jersey to three Stanley Cups.

The injury was originally diagnosed as a bruised elbow, and Brodeur had hoped that it was not serious because there was no swelling, discoloration or much pain.

Brodeur was taken to see several specialists before being told that the biceps had torn from the elbow and would require surgery. Brodeur said it will take two months before he can start moving the elbow again, and then he would begin rehabilitation.

He has never had a major injury in his career and has played in at least 67 games every NHL season since 1995-96.

The starting job now falls to Weekes, who was outstanding on Monday night in a 2-0 loss to Buffalo, making 28 saves, including 19-of-20 in the first period.

Brodeur called Weekes a great goalie and teammate, noting that the 33-year-old who is now in his 10th season was always upbeat last year despite playing in only nine games.

Brodeur started 77 games, and had a streak of 56 straight starts before missing Monday’s game.

Brodeur has won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender four times, including last season when he posted a 44-27 record and a 2.17 goals-against average. His seven seasons with 40 or more wins are an NHL record, and his 2.20 career goals-against average is the lowest in the NHL’s modern era. He set a single-season record for wins with 48 in 2006-07, breaking Bernie Parent’s old mark of 47.

Brodeur has 544 career wins, eight shy of breaking Patrick Roy’s NHL record of 551. Brodeur is also five shutouts from tying Terry Sawchuk’s record of 103.