Will the Pittsburgh Steelers get injured starter Ben Roethlisberger back next week for their road game against the Kansas City Chiefs? Nobody really knows for sure, but it looks like Roethlisberger intends on upping his participation in practice next week just the same.
“We’re going to tape it and brace it and I’m going to see what I can do,” Roethlisberger said after the Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals, 25-13, According to Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “My plan is to go out Wednesday and practice. We’ll see what happens. I know I’ve got to be smart about it. I’ve got to be able to defend myself. We’re just going to take it day by day.”
This past week, Roethlisberger was able to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out the Friday session. He has missed the last three games with a left MCL sprain that he suffered back in week 3.
Roethlisberger has never missed more than three games in a row during his career due to injuries. If he is able to play next Sunday, he will likely need to wear a brace on his left knee.
After Sunday’s win, head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about how soon he’d like to be able to name a starter for the game against the Chiefs.
“As quick as I can, but I don’t know what that means,” said Tomlin. “I want complete clarity, but I don’t always get what I want. We’ll go day-by-day and do what we think is appropriate.”
If Roethlisberger is unable to play next Sunday, odds are good that Landry Jones will make his first career start thanks to his play Sunday after he relived an injured Mike Vick, who left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury.
