On the Steelers: Batch could be only option
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Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch was 5 of 11 passing for 25 yards in Sunday's win at Tennessee.
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Charlie Batch might find it amusing if it weren't so serious. He is the last man standing, the lone healthy quarterback the Steelers have at the position as they prepare for their third game.
He was snubbed all spring and all summer in the competition at quarterback, rarely given snaps in practice never mind a chance to compete. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that Batch's history of injuries worked against him. He looked to be the quarterback they would release to start the season.
And here he is, the only healthy one on their roster with a chance to start the Steelers' next game Sunday in Tampa, Fla.
The news on the latest injury to a Steelers quarterback may not be as good as they had hoped Sunday after Dennis Dixon's left knee was injured in their 19-11 victory at Tennessee. One source close to the situation said that Dixon has a torn lateral meniscus, which could keep him out 3-5 weeks.
Tomlin said after the game he did not know who would start against the Buccaneers. Given choices all year, he turned away from Batch, even after veteran Byron Leftwich's left knee was sprained.
Now Tomlin may have no choice after Dixon's injury. The Steelers provided no official update on Dixon's condition, although he attended meetings Monday with his teammates.
Leftwich would like to help his coach make that choice at quarterback. He returned to the team Monday after they released him for one game in a procedural move to sign defensive tackle Steve McLendon for the game in Tennessee. On Wednesday, Leftwich will test his injured knee to give him and his coaches an idea of whether he can return to the field of play.
"I'm feeling better, a whole lot better. I want to get through a full practice," Leftwich said Monday. "I'm quite sure they want to see me get through a full practice, too. I'm going to try to get out there Wednesday and really push it and see how healthy I am. I'm going to really push it and see what happens."
Just about anything and everything has happened at the quarterback position for the Steelers this season. Their franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, was suspended for the first four games. Then Leftwich, groomed all year to start in place of Roethlisberger after they acquired him in a trade from Tampa Bay, sprained his left knee in the final preseason game.
First Published September 21, 2010 12:00 am
