Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Answering the question: Could he take a hit? Ben Roethlisberger pulls away from Arizona's Bertrand Berry on the first series of yesterday's preseason opener in Glendale, Ariz. Click photo for larger image. Related coverage Steelers Notebook: Holmes, Reid earn good grades in their debuts Ron Cook: Steelers' Foote, Porter won't put lid on trash talk Slideshow: Game One at Arizona Cardinals Preseason Game One Photo Journal Key numbers Stats that matter from yesterday's game 9: Snaps taken by Ben Roethlisberger in his one series 4: Receptions by No. 1 draft pick Santonio Holmes for 32 yards 5: Tackles by free-agent signee Ryan Clark to lead the Steelers 2: Interceptions by rookie safety Anthony Smith

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, playing indoors, put more daylight between his motorcycle accident and his return to football yesterday. He played in his first game, threw his first pass, had his first completion and, perhaps most important of all, took his first hit.

The Steelers did not score a touchdown during Roethlisberger's one series, but all was deemed an unqualified success, as has everything associated with the quarterback since his June 12 accident.

"You guys make it a bigger deal than I do," Roethlisberger told the media after the defending Super Bowl champs lost, 21-13, to the Arizona Cardinals in the maiden game in their new stadium. "I went out there, and the rest of the guys, we just treated it like another preseason game. I felt just as comfortable as always."

Yet even the man called Big Ben admitted to pausing before kickoff to reflect on just how far he has come the past two months.

"It kind of hit me right before the kickoff, to say thank you that I'm able to be out here, to put on the jersey, to be in front of people and playing again, two months to the day after a pretty bad accident."

Roethlisberger stayed in for nine plays in the first series and dropped back into the pocket several times in the opening preseason game for both clubs. He completed 3 of 4 passes for 29 yards, dancing and ducking away from pressure in typical Big Ben style. Quincy Morgan dropped the only incompletion.

Cardinals starter Kurt Warner, a two-time NFL MVP, threw two touchdown passes, and Steelers rookie Omar Jacobs tossed one late in the game.

Roethlisberger showed no effects from the broken jaw he had from the accident and no fear. either. His first pass was a screen to Verron Haynes that gained 11 yards and a first down.

Next, he took a five-step drop, scrambled away from one rusher and completed a pass to Willie Parker for 7 yards. Two plays after that, he dropped back and deftly shook off Adrian Wilson on a safety blitz, rolled to his right and found tight end Heath Miller for an 11-yard pass completion.

It was then that coach Bill Cowher walked onto the field to tell his quarterback to play it safe.

"I just told him in the future I would rather him go down at this point, where we're at, rather than to fight to get free," Cowher said. "But that's what happens. You get out there and you don't start thinking about those things, which was good for him. I think it was just good for him to get out there and just play. From that perspective, I'm kind of glad we got that out of the way."

Said Roethlisberger, "I told him I was trying not to get hit. I think things went really well on offense."

He dropped back two plays after that chat and put the ball on target along the sideline, where it went through Morgan's hands. On the next play, third-and-5, Roethlisberger dropped back into the pocket again and was forced to flee by end Antonio Smith's pursuit. Tackle Gabe Watson, though, caught up to him and sacked him around the waist. Roethlisberger hit the ground gently, although end Chike Okeafor hit him in the helmet while he was on the ground. Nothing was called, and Roethlisberger acted as if he did not feel it later.

"Actually, I didn't feel any different than any other hit."

Still, it was a significant moment to many, including his teammates.

"I'm glad he got tackled a little bit so that, if he was thinking about anything, it should be gone now," receiver Cedrick Wilson said. "He got his first hit in, and now we can pretty much roll."

The Steelers did not roll much yesterday, though, and Cowher was not happy about that. Jeff Reed came on to try a 54-yard field goal after Roethlisberger was sacked, but his kick was wide left, and that was it for Roethlisberger.

"We came away with nothing on that first drive, but I'm glad from Ben's perspective he was able to get out there, and I thought he made some plays," Cowher said.

Charlie Batch played the next two series, guiding the Steelers to a field goal, before the team's two young quarterbacks, Shane Boyd and Omar Jacobs, shared the job the rest of the way. Jacobs threw a nice, loping 1-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Smolko in the back right corner of the end zone with 1:25 left for the Steelers' only touchdown.

Cowher again was noncommittal about how much Roethlisberger will play in the second preseason game at Heinz Field Saturday.

Roethlisberger no longer sees any of it as an issue.

"I feel like I can go right now," he said. "It's not me. It's how the rest of the offense starts clicking. Last year, we didn't score a touchdown in the preseason, and a few people made a big deal of it."

In other words, Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory, is on the same pace of a year ago.

Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Ben Roethlisberger prepares for the start of yesterday's game against the backdrop of the new expansive indoor field in Arizona -- home of the Cardinals.