Mike Tomlin said today that Ben Roethlisberger threw again on Monday and is closer to returning, but the quarterback must practice this week if he is going to play Sunday against the Chargers.
The Steelers will hold their first practice of the week on Wednesday, and Roethlisberger will get an opportunity to show he's ready.
In the meantime, the Steelers are moving forward with Charlie Batch at quarterback.
I would expect Roethlisberger to play this week.
@ Cornerback Ike Taylo.r is out at least two weeks with a fracture in his ankle. Tomlin said no surgery will be required.
It's a hairline fracture and Taylor is a fast healer - as his 135-consecutive games played streak would suggest - so I would expect him back before the postseason.
@ LaMarr Woodley will be questionable to play this week with his ankle sprain.
With Jason Worilds playing well, the Steelers won't rush Woodley back.
@ A number of players will be limited early in the week, including Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Mike Wallace.
@ Willie Colon is expected back this week, as is Jerricho Cotchery.
@ Tomlin said the running back rotation will remain the same, with Rashard Mendenhall sitting again because he doesn't play special teams.
ike taylor = quick healer
ReplyDeletewoodley = not quick healer
No Mendenhall two weeks in a row. A former first rounder can't get active because he doesn't play special teams? You have to figure his attitude hasn't been great and Tomlin is send him a message.
ReplyDeleteBut what about the handshake?!
ReplyDelete~SBK
Would personally like to see Ben stay out one more week whether he's ready or not. I think another week of game planning for Batch and him being comfortable with the WR's that we could win without Ben. Our DEF is playing awesome and Rivers has shown he can't play well right now. Last year Ben came back to play SF and it was too early, we lost, and he had a setback in his health. If we want to make a run for the playoffs I'd rather see Ben sit another week.
ReplyDeleteAgree that if BR isn't near 100%, he shouldn't play. The game is at home, the defense is playing great and Batch has shown, as when BR was suspended, he tends to get better with more reps.
ReplyDeleteI think Ben needs to sit until the game against Dallas. Of all the remaining games the Dallas game is the one that would hurt the least in regards to tie-breakers. I don't think they can afford to lose to another AFC team and certainly not Cincy. If Ben comes out rusty against Dallas and they lose - fine, as long as the team beats the Chargers, Bengals, and Browns they will be in good shape.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have Roethlisberger with a game under his belt heading to Dallas, which will be a tougher game without Taylor.
ReplyDeleteIf he's healthy , enough to play, he plays
yeh what Dale said, if Ben can tolerate the pain to the point he doesn't limit him too much, hes no doubt playing. There is no preserving him at this point in the season.
ReplyDeleteI'm really not trying to being too negative here, because Charlie Batch was a great story against the Ravens. But lets not forget how bad he was against the Browns. We all thought he was done done.
Maybe he gets better with reps, but he obviously has limitations. Maybe it was the gameplan that played to his strengths and we'll see something similar this week, but I'm not forgetting the Browns game just because of his play at Baltimore.
this chargers game is no gimme. sure, rivers has stunk at times. but, they were winning many of those games heading into the 4th quarter then let it slip away against teams like the saints, ravens, broncos and bengals.
ReplyDeleteif #7 is at 75%, he should still play, they will need him. plus, #7 at 75% is probably better than batch at 100%.
If Ben can make the throws necessary he should play, its that simple. No need to over analyze things. I am actually not too concerned about Woodley being out. Worilds has played pretty well these last couple games. I thought that despite getting beat for a TD and then getting a PI call, Cortez Allen played pretty well. He was in good position most of the time. With Troy's progression and the solid play of Will Allen, the secondary should be solid until Ike gets back.
ReplyDeleteit also helps that half of the Chargers oline could miss this game.
ReplyDeleteDale, if Hoyer isn't active next game and both Ben and Charlie were to go down with injury, who would be the emergency QB? IIRC, Hines used to be that guy as he played QB at Georgia. My guess would be Sanders or maye even Brown?
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteI think this year, the emergency QB is Heath. I seem to remember the question coming up in the game Ben got hurt, since Batch was inactive.
Heath Miller is the emergency QB
ReplyDeleteHampton is the emergency QB
ReplyDeleteHampton ate the emergency QB
ReplyDelete