Slideshow: Preparing for Arizona

Friday, August 11, 2006

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Multimedia presentation by Peter Diana
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Coach Bill Cowher made the official announcement yesterday morning at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Ben Roethlisberger will start Saturday's preseason game in Arizona but won't play as long as the other starters against the Cardinals.

The Steelers do not plan to put Roethlisberger in any position where he might take a hard hit, even though Cowher and the team's medical staff are not concerned about any lingering physical effects from his June 12 motorcycle accident.

Cowher said he is not worried about Roethlisberger taking a hit, but he admitted his quarterback likely will have a small measure of apprehension about his complete recovery until he takes a hit.

That has not happened in training camp, where the defense is not allowed to touch the quarterback.

"I'm always apprehensive about getting hit, regardless if I was in an accident or not," Roethlisberger said. "Everyone talks about how it will be good to take a first hit. But, if we can avoid it, that will be the best thing to do [until] season starts."

Said offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt: "That's going to come in time. You play this game, you're going to get hit. Ben is a tough kid, very resilient. I doubt that's going to be an issue."