PITTSBURGH -- Mason Rudolph scrambled left, extending the play by escaping a collapsed pocket and rifling a pass downfield to his favorite college receiver.

But the cheers for the Pittsburgh Steelers' 26-yard completion quickly subsided and the focus shifted away from James Washington to the motionless quarterback some 30 yards behind the play.

With a hard hit to Rudolph's chin with 7:29 remaining in the third quarter of the Steelers' 26-23 overtime loss, Baltimore Ravens safety Earl Thomas II placed the quarterback in the concussion protocol and forced the Steelers to play their third signal caller in four weeks.

"I didn't intentionally try to hurt him," Thomas said, insisting he didn't hit Rudolph too high. "I'm worried about him. I heard he's at the hospital. My prayers go out to him and his family. I've never tried to hurt anybody. At the end of the day, guys have families."

Running over to Rudolph after the hit, left tackle Alejandro Villanueva put his hands on the unconscious quarterback's chest in a cursory check for vital signs and frantically motioned to the athletic trainers on the sideline.

"When he was on the ground, it looked like it was a lot more serious than just a simple hit," Villanueva said. "I don't like to get into details of his medical condition. You could tell he had been hit to the head and the only thing I could do was to wave the trainers down to the location."

As team medical personnel rushed out, Rudolph's teammates came closer to their injured quarterback. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster crumpled backward upon seeing Rudolph laying on the ground. Overcome with emotion, Smith-Schuster crawled forward on all fours as he prayed for his teammate.

"I've heard of situations where the person's not moving at all and they don't get up," Smith-Schuster said. "And I was just praying to God that he gets up and he's our quarterback and he's our guy. I'm praying for a speedy recovery."

While trainers surrounded Rudolph, the cart came out on the field and the stretcher was brought out. Though mostly still, Rudolph's legs moved intermittently as trainers worked on him, unsnapping his facemask from the front of his helmet.

As Rudolph stood up after about four minutes on the ground, the officials announced a roughing the passer call against Thomas for the hit, and the crowd responded with loud chants of "Take him out."

Afterward, though, Thomas maintained his hit on Rudolph was legal.

"It's a football play," Thomas said "It wasn't dirty. He actually got sandwiched. B-Carr [Brandon Carr] came from behind and I hit him from the side in the strike zone. I didn't even see a flag initially. I think once they saw how serious it was, they were like, 'Oh, let me throw this flag,' which was understandable."

Rudolph didn't exit on the cart as it failed to work correctly due to operator error, a team spokesman confirmed, and instead, linemen Zach Banner and B.J. Finney came on from the sideline to assist their quarterback. Rudolph looped an arm around each of their necks, and together, the trio advanced slowly toward the sideline.

The pair talked to Rudolph a bit, asking him what -- if anything -- he remembered, and they got a smile and a small laugh out of him.

"By the time I was carrying him, he was responsive and talking and everything," Finney said. "It's a scary moment, but we're glad he's all right and that he'll come back to us."

Once on the sideline, Rudolph was helped into the tunnel by more team personnel and he was taken to a hospital for precautionary tests. A source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Rudolph will be "OK" and "so far, signs are good" as they relate to his responsiveness and spirits. He's now home from the hospital, according to the source.

With Rudolph's concussion, the Steelers are on the verge of a third starting quarterback in six weeks. Rudolph took over for Ben Roethlisberger at halftime of the Week 2 loss after Roethlisberger's season-ending elbow injury.

After Rudolph's injury Sunday, the spotlight turned to former Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges, who was elevated to the 53-man roster from the practice squad after Roethlisberger's injury.

Hodges completed 7-of-9 attempts for 68 yards in relief of Rudolph, and he recorded the Steelers' longest run of the game with a 21-yard scramble in the fourth quarter.

"Mason is my guy," Hodges said. "I would say he is one of my closer friends on the team. He has really taken me in. You might see me on the sideline kind of just standing there, it wasn't because I was freaking out about me going in, I was just thinking about Mason and what's up with him and is he OK. After a minute, he was just lying there, he wasn't even moving. That is just tough to look at."

LANDOVER, Md. -- Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson, carrying the frustration of an 0-5 start, tried to choke back tears as he discussed coach Jay Gruden's future. Thompson lost the battle; tears eventually rolled down his cheeks and he paused several times while finishing an answer. Gruden's job security remains tenuous after a 33-7 loss to the New England Patriots. New reports about his potential firing surface every week. It's become a topic of conversation in the locker room, during the week and especially after games.

"It's frustrating, of course," Thompson said. "It's something that's tough to think about with that situation. I really care about Jay and ..."

Thompson paused, tears started dripping and he needed to take a deep breath. Nine seconds later he continued.

"It's tough, man," Thompson said.

Thompson arrived in 2013, a year before Gruden did, but he's credited the Redskins' coach with giving him numerous opportunities over the years -- taking him from a practice squad player in 2014 to Washington's third-down back for the past four-plus seasons.

Meanwhile, Gruden, in his sixth season, continues to answer questions about his job. The Redskins last made the playoffs in 2015, Gruden's second season. Since then, they're 22-30-1. The focus on his security was there before this season started. There were questions entering 2018 as well.

But nobody from the organization has said anything publicly since the season began about his status. Redskins owner Dan Snyder and team president Bruce Allen exited the stadium shortly after Sunday's game; they typically hang around at the stadium for several hours.

"Nobody's told me anything," Gruden said during his news conference. "I don't have a concern; I'll just wait and see -- if my key works on Monday, keep working, go attack the Miami Dolphins and plan on getting our first win next week."

No other players were as emotional as Thompson in a quiet locker room. But there is clear frustration: The Redskins did not anticipate being this bad. They've scored a combined 25 points the past three games. Now, they're getting more questions about what must change -- or who.

"I don't know, to be honest," said Redskins running back Adrian Peterson. "I've never been in this position before. But it's clear something has to change. That's one thing you do know because we are 0-5. We have not been productive as an offense. We've shown flashes of what we can be, but we haven't been consistent. You have to go to the drawing board as a coaching staff offensively and defensively and you say, 'OK, what can we do better to put our players in better position to be productive.' It's their job to do that. We're 0-5 so what we've been doing isn't working."

Other veterans didn't want to answer questions about Gruden's job.

"That's not a question I can answer, that's dealing with up top," Redskins corner Josh Norman said. "I'm not going to put myself in a situation to comment on it. That goes to the people in the top of the office that make those decisions. We just play the game and play it to the best of our abilities. ... We can't catch a break."

Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said, "We can't concern ourselves with that. We've got to try and find a way to win as players. We've got to be better as players. That's our focus."

World Cross champion takes over from Mo Farah as winner of global 25-lap gold

With a great tactical run and a withering 55-second last lap, 2:27 final kilometre and a 13:14 second half, world cross-country champion Joshua Cheptegei claimed the world 10,000m crown to go one better than in 2017.

The Ugandan 23-year-old had to work hard though to beat world indoor mile record-holder Yomif Kejelcha who pushed him all the way on a pulsating last lap which had the capacity crowd roaring.

But Cheptegei showed he had learned from his loss to Mo Farah in London by using his tactics.

Abdallah Kibet Mande of Uganda set the early pace of around 65 seconds a lap, passing 1000m in 2:43.67 and 2000m in 5:27.24 and the whole field was still together but spread over 25 metres.

After seven minutes of running, Rhonex Kipruto surged to the front and ran a couple of 63-second laps to shake up the field and as he passed 3000m in 8:08.23 the lead pack was down to 18 runners. All the main contenders were up at the front with the group spread over four seconds.

The pace slowed a little through 4000m with Kipruto still ahead in 10:52.38 just ahead of his countryman Rodgers Kwemoi and the pack was now down to 16.

The fifth kilometre was a little quicker and at halfway Kipruto (13:33.20) led from Kwemoi (13:33.43) and Adamlak Belihu (13:33.92) to make up the leading trio and the pack was now numbering 11 with the only European in the group, Yemane Crippa, at the back.

Cheptegei was ahead at 6km in 16:16.13 with that kilometre maintaining the 65-second a lap average pace and the lead group still numbered 11.

The pace was not quick enough for Kipruto so he pushed the seventh kilometre harder and upped the pace to 64 seconds a lap and at 7000m in 18:56.85 it was now down to eight as Shadrack Kipchirchir, Alex Korio and Crippa had to let go.

So the battle for medals was now down to three Ethiopians (Belihu, Hagos Gebrhiwet and Kejecha, one Ugandan (Cheptegei), two Kenyans (Kipruto and Kwemoi), one American (Lopez Lomong) and one Canadian (Mo Ahmed).

The pace dropped again at 8km (21:40.16) and the eight stayed together and all looked like they were in contention.

Two laps of 64 followed with Cheptegei now starting a long run for home and at 9000m he led in 24:20.79. That acceleration saw off Gebrhiwet (24:22.46) and Lomong (24:22.73).

The Ugandan continued to turn the screw with a 62.4 circuit and then a 61.25 and now it was down to three with Kejelcha and Kipruto his only remaining challengers.

Kejelcha moved wide at the bell, which the Ugandan reached in 25:52.98, and looked like he wanted to overtake but Cheptegei held him off with a 14.29. Along the back straight Kejelcha edged ahead on the outside but the Ugandan remained in control despite a punishing 13.21 100m.

Kejeclcha continued to run wide almost touching with the leader as the bend was covered in 13.76 and the mid 200 was covered in under 27 seconds.

The Ethiopian tried again in the straight but paid for the extra distance and the aggression too far out and he faded badly in the straight.

Cheptegei won in a PB and world lead of 26:48.36 with Kejelcha setting a PB 26:49.34 with Kipruto missing his by a fraction but getting the reward for doing most of the work with a bronze medal in 26:50.32.

Kwemoi set a PB in fourth (26:55.36) while in sixth Ahmed set a Canadian record 26:59.35 in sixth as the first six went inside 27 minutes

Crippa picked off a few in the closing laps to be top European and he ran a 27:10.76 Italian record to go third on the European all-time list.

Shock win for Peters

After the best ever shot contest the day before came one of the lesser quality javelin contests but that won’t bother Grenada or Anderson Peters who dominated a low-key competition that failed to justify its position as the final field event of the programme.

The Pan American champion opened with a 86.69m and that was only bettered by his 86.89m fourth round throw.

The 21-year-old, in his first global senior final, went two places better than he had in his previous biggest finals, the 2016 world junior championships and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

He said: “I did not think 86m would be enough to win gold. I was up against 90-metre men throwing high 88s all season.”

World leader Magnus Kirt was second with a 86.21m second round throw and had a 85.90m fourth round effort that was also better than all bar Peters.

He unfortunately injured himself badly on his fifth round throw and was unable to take his final throw.

Defending champion Johannes Vetter took bronze with a 85.37m second round throw.

There was a huge gap to the other competitors with Lassi Etelatalo was fourth with a 82.49m effort.

German destroys her rivals with giant 7.30m leap at IAAF World Champs in Doha as Abigail Irozuru is seventh

Malaika Mihambo came to Doha as the favourite for the long jump and she lived up to her billing as she killed the competition in the third round with a huge 7.30m effort.

For the German it was the third longest world championships mark in history and has only been beaten by Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s 7.36m from 1987 and 7.32m from 1991.

The 25-year-old began with a modest 6.52m and then a foul but soon got into her stride.

“I was trying to make a secure jump to get into the next round,” said Mihambo. “I was telling myself this next round will not be a foul. I was not trying to go for 7.30m but it just happened and I’m really proud and speechless.”

The victory was just as dominant as Yulimar Rojas’ triple jump win the previous evening. Behind Mihambo, Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk won silver with 6.92m and Ese Brume took bronze with 6.91m. GB’s

“That was so amazing,” said Mihambo, who added 14cm to her PB. “It was a difficult competition but I’m really glad I came through.”

She added: “I thought my physical condition would allow me to jump about 7.20m but my coach told me I could do more than that.

“Heike Drechsler left some really big footprints in Germany so it’s an honour to become the first German to win a global long jump title since her.”

What now for Mihambo? She is on a flight at 8.30am from Doha to Thailand to go backpacking and “discover the country” before returning to training to prepare for the Olympics.

Abigail Irozuru was the best of the Brits in seventh with 6.64m (0.1), while Shara Proctor was 11th with 6.43m (-0.1).

Proctor said: “I was feeling good but my first jump was a foul. I was feeling really confident but because of the foul I lost confidence in my approach and that’s a very important part of the jump for me. So that played a role in my performance today unfortunately.”

American sprint hurdler takes world title in fast 12.34 on final night at IAAF World Champs

Nia Ali ran one of the fastest times in history to win 100m hurdles gold and celebrated with her son joining her on her lap of honour.

The mother of two has a four-year-old son and one-year-old daughter and yet returned to terrific shape to beat fellow American Kendra Harrison, the world record-holder running 12.46 in second, plus Danielle Williams, the Jamaica clocking 12.47.

“I’ve been training really hard since coming back from having my kids. These other ladies have been raising the bar so I had to increase my intensity level to match them,” said 30-year-old Ali.

“I knew I was really fit all year so I was praying that the taper would work and that I’d come out running well in the first round and from there on.”

In one of the final events of the championships, Ali ran PBs in the semi-final (12.44) and final to take the title.

“This is super special,” said Ali. “I have never won an outdoor world title, I am ecstatic. Shelly-Ann, Allyson, all the ladies who have come back from childbirth are an inspiration for me and I am so excited to be able to pull of the world title.”

Britain’s Cindy Ofili, fourth in the Rio Olympics in 2016, continued her comeback from Achilles surgery and other injuries with sixth place in 12.95 (0.8). Sniffing with a slight head cold, she left the track a bit disgruntled but said it was a good step on the road to recovery ahead of the Olympics next year.

Cindy Ofili disappointed to go out of the sprint hurdles semis but she’s pleased with her comeback from injuries and looking forward to Olympic year. #worldathleticschamps pic.twitter.com/gJqI6rCDWp

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 6, 2019

Americans taste victory while British women’s side are denied a medal and their men fail to get the baton round on final night in Doha

A fearsomely strong USA team crushed their opposition as they stormed to a ninth women’s 4x400m relay gold.

There was no place for Allyson Felix in the defending champions’ line-up as 400m hurdles gold and silver medallists Dalilah Muhammad and Sydney McLaughlin joined forces with Phyllis Francis and Wadeline Jonathas to clock a world-leading 3:18.92 and comfortably beat Poland’s national record of 3:21.89.

Jamaica ultimately took bronze in a season’s best time of 3:22.37, though not until after they were disqualified and then reinstated on an eventful evening. 

The Great Britain quartet of Zoey Clark, Jodie Williams, Emily Diamond and Laviai Nielsen initially thought they had finished outside the medals as they ran a season’s best of 3:23.02 for fourth place but they found themselves moved up a place on to the podium after Jamaica were disqualified for lining up incorrectly at the second handover. 

It was then decided, however, that the advantage gained was irrelevant and the original result stood. 

USA had led from the off when Francis put them in control ahead of Poland and Jamaica, with Britain fourth at the first changeover.

A 49.6 split from Williams put Britain into the top three but, with the Americans extending their lead, Jamaica moved into third again and the positions – eventually – remained unchanged.

“My legs are burning,” said Williams. “I am so proud on these girls – we all had a job to do and every single one of them showed up.”

Britain’s time was faster than the mark which won them silver in London two years ago and Olympic bronze in Rio and Diamond added: “We wanted that medal so badly. That is the quickest we’ve run in years, it’s two seconds quicker than we ran in the Olympics and London 2017 so we really gave it our all.”

In the men’s contest, which was also the final event of these championships, an American team consisting of Fred Kerley, Michael Cherry, Wilbert London and Rai Benjamin coasted to victory in 2:56.69 from Jamaica and Belgium.

The British team, meanwhile, messed up an exchange at the start of the third leg, although they were at the back of the field and not in the medal hunt at the time.

The United States had individual 400m bronze medallist Kerley on the first leg and 400m hurdles silver medallist Benjamin on the anchor as they breezed to victory. Runners-up Jamaica clocked 2:57.90 and Belgium 2:58.78 in the battle for minor medals. Close behind, the fast-finishing Anthony Jose Zambrano, a surprise silver medallist in the individual 400m, helped Colombia run a national record of 2:59.50 in fourth.

Cameron Chalmers ran the first leg for the GB team and handed over to Toby Harries, but Harries then failed to get the baton to third leg man Rabah Yousif, leaving the team frustrated and anchorman Lee Thompson unable to run.

Britain nearly did not make it into the final either for the first time since 1999 after coming fifth in their heat. Although after Botswana were disqualified the team qualified as a fast loser and Martyn Rooney was replaced by Harries for the final.

Kenyan leads from gun to tape as Jake Wightman breaks Scottish record with fifth place at the IAAF World Championships in Doha

Timothy Cheruiyot has clearly been the best 1500m runner in the world this year and the Kenyan proved the point in fine style as he front ran his way to gold in Doha. 

The 2017 silver medallist, who finished second behind compatriot Elijah Manangoi in London and also at last year’s Commonwealth Games, was favourite in the absence of his training partner and he lived up to that billing after taking the race by the scruff of the neck right from the off and never letting up.

Cheruiyot, world leader with 3:28.77, never looked under real threat at any stage before he crossed the line in 3:29.26 ahead of Taoufik Makhloufi’s season’s best 3:31.38 and Marcin Lewandowski’s Polish record of 3:31.46 which secured him the bronze medal. Jakob Ingebrigtsen was fourth with 3:31.70. 

This was the first time that three British athletes had featured in the final of this event and Jake Wightman broke the Scottish record with 3:31.87 in fifth, closely followed by Josh Kerr’s personal best of 3:32.52 in sixth, while Neil Gourley was 11th in his first world final in a time of 3:37.30.

Cheruiyot wasted little time in showing his intent as he shot straight to the front and was joined by fellow Kenyan Ronald Kwemoi. The pair were moving away from the rest of the field as they went through 400m in 54.94 and 800m in 1:59.67.

Cheruiyot was out on his own at 1200m, with a lead of over two seconds from Makhloufi who was heading the chasing pack. The Algerian 2012 Olympic champion who has struggled with injury of late could not close the gap, however, and had to work to hold off the late charging Lewandowski. 

“I felt very confident in the race because I train hard and I wanted to avoid the pushing and collisions so I took the lead. It was my plan to run like that to be in a good position,” said Cheruiyot. “Thank God I did the best from the start and I am happy to become world champion.

“I felt the support of Kenyans in the crowd and it was amazing. The Olympic season is coming so I need to work harder.”

There were mixed feelings for Wightman, who said: “It’s something like I feel I should be celebrating and not disappointed but I think it was a lot closer than I thought it was going to be for the medals. “It would have taken literally a tiny little bit more than I had, but that as the best I could give today and I’m proud of finishing fifth in that kind of field.

“If you run a PB you can’t complain because I’ve delivered my best performance at the most important time, so I’ll happily take that and work into the winter into next season.

“I’m proud of the other guys, though. To get three Scots into a world final – it’s an achievement for all of us.”

.@JakeSWightman tells @euancrumley about the current standard of 1500m GB (and Scottish!) running #WorldAthleticsChamps @scotathletics pic.twitter.com/AQYgIkJ66o

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) October 6, 2019