Pittsburgh Steelers’ Dennis Dixon out, Ben Roethlisberger back

The Pittsburgh Steelers put quarterback Dennis Dixon on injured reserve Saturday, ending his season.

With Ben Roethlisberger scheduled to be reinstated from his four-game league suspension Monday, the Steelers (3-0) were facing a glut at quarterback. Dixon had knee surgery last week and was expected to miss about six weeks.

Charlie Batch will start his second consecutive game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, with Byron Leftwich the backup. Batch was expected to be released before the season until Leftwich sprained his left knee in the preseason finale.

Dixon started the first two games of the season and threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns, but he injured his knee against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.

Miami Dolphins inside linebacker Channing Crowder was listed as doubtful for Monday night’s game against the New England Patriots after seeing a specialist Friday for the groin injury that has kept him out of the first three games.

Defensive end Jared Odrick and right guard John Jerry were both ruled out because of injuries.

San Francisco 49ers starting strong safety Michael Lewis has reportedly requested his release.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Lewis has left the 49ers (0-3) out of frustration. On Friday, the Colorado product missed practice, apparently for personal reasons. Multiple reports surfaced soon after that Lewis had left the team after he was informed that the organization planned to phase rookie Taylor Mays into Lewis’ role.

MOTOR RACING

Franchitti wins IndyCar series title

Dario Franchitti charged to his third IndyCar Series championship after points leader Will Power wrecked his car more than halfway through the race and was unable to complete the Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Scott Dixon won the race, and Danica Patrick finished second, 2.7587 seconds behind. Franchitti was eighth, two spots better than he needed to wrap up the title, and finished five points ahead of Power in the season standings.

Joey Logano turned the tables on Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas City, Kan.

Logano had finished second to Busch three times in a season in which he has ended up second six times. But Logano got past Busch on a restart with five laps to go and held off Busch and Brad Keselowski to win for the second time this season.

GOLF

Haas leads Viking Classic by four shots

Bill Haas shot a three-under-par 69 for a 15-under total and had a four-stroke lead after the third round of the PGA Tour’s Viking Classic at Madison, Miss.

Michael Allen, still seeking his first win on the tour 26 years after he turned professional, was among a group of four players tied for second after shooting a 70.

Fred Couples led the Champions Tour’s Ensure Classic by one shot at 12-under 132 after he shot a six-under 66 at Conover, N.C. Bernhard Langer (67) was one shot behind, and Morris Hatalsky (65) and Nick Price (67) were another stroke back.

Steven Bowditch of Australia surged into the lead at the Nationwide Tour’s Soboba Golf Classic at San Jacinto, shooting an eight-under 63 for a 16-under 197 total after three rounds. Bowditch, who began the round in a tie for eighth place, leads by two shots over Camilo Benedetti (62) and Keegan Bradley (68).

ETC.

U.S. women advance to gold-medal game

The United States advanced to the gold-medal game at the women’s basketball world championship with a 106-70 victory over Spain at Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

Tamika Catchings scored 14 points for the U.S., which will face the Czech Republic in the championship game. Spain and Belarus will play for the bronze medal.

Angela Taylor will not return as general manager of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell will sit out at least the first month of the NHL season because of a sprained knee, the team said.

The Minnesota Wild signed goalie Jose Theodore to a one-year contract.

Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki beat Elena Dementieva, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3, to win the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament at Tokyo.

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal was upset, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3, by fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the semifinals of the Thailand Open at Nonthaburi.

Megan Rapinoe and Heather O’Reilly scored as the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated China, 2-1, in an exhibition game at Kennesaw, Ga.

Lookin At Lucky came from last place in a field of nine 3-year-olds to win the $500,000 Indiana Derby by 1 1/4 lengths over Thiskyhasnolimit at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Ind.