On the Steelers: Quarterback decision on hold
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The Steelers have not yet announced if they will start Charlie Batch, left, or Byron Leftwich at quarterback Sunday against Tampa Bay.
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What began this season with the new soap opera As the Quarterback Turns morphed into multiple episodes of As the Quarterbacks' Knees Turn.
Maybe it's a good thing for his long-range health that Ben Roethlisberger cannot play the first month of the season, because he cannot injure a knee, not unless he is following the Willie Colon offseason workout routine.
The state of the Steelers' situation is such that coach Mike Tomlin meant it when he said Tuesday that "from a health standpoint, we'll take it," even after he announced that "starting" quarterback Dennis Dixon would have knee surgery this morning and that the Steelers likely lost another starting offensive lineman for the game Sunday in more 90-degree heat at Tampa Bay.
Tomlin said that he fully expects not only quarterback Byron Leftwich to be ready to play after missing two games with his knee injury, but he might start him. The coach also said he will welcome the return of two other starters who missed the fun in the sun at Tennessee, offensive left tackle Max Starks and nose tackle Casey Hampton.
The new offensive lineman likely to sit out the game Sunday is right guard Trai Essex, whose sprained ankle was in a boot while he was on crutches Tuesday. Doug Legursky would replace him.
As for the quarterbacks, the Steelers will have two at the ready in Tampa and no more: Leftwich and Charlie Batch. They worked out three quarterbacks this week -- former Southern California quarterback John David Booty, released by the Houston Texans this year; Levi Brown, formerly with Buffalo, and Jarrett Brown, formerly of WVU. But they do not plan to sign a quarterback either to their 53-man roster or practice squad before the Tampa game.
That leaves Leftwich, Batch and Antwaan Randle El, if necessary.
Tomlin said he does not expect Leftwich's knee to be an issue.
"He's been able to comfortably get through some workouts. Now, workouts are different than practice, of course, and games, particularly the unanticipated movements that come with football, but we feel comfortable with where he is."
First Published September 22, 2010 12:00 am
