Michael Vick will start for the 2-1 Pittsburgh Steelers when the winless Baltimore Ravens come to the Steel City for Week 4’s Thursday Night Football.
Now 35, Vick will be making his first start since late last November, when he completed just 7 of 19 passes for the New York Jets in a 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He spent the offseason attempting to find a job before finally landing in Pittsburgh as Ben Roethlisberger’s backup.
The Steelers could use a flash of the old Vick with Roethlisberger out multiple weeks.
Since going to the Pro Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010, Vick has just 32 starts and a 80.9 passer rating over the last five years.
Here are five other players to watch on TNF:
Steelers WR Antonio Brown and Ravens WR Steve Smith: Brown is second in the NFL in receiving yards with 436, while Smith is third with 349. The Ravens veteran figures to close ground on his Steelers counterpart Thursday night. Smith has 23 catches and 336 of his yards over the last two weeks, while Brown’s production is likely to take a small hit with Vick under center. And don’t forget: Brown has a streak of 35 straight games with at least 50 receiving yards on the line.
Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell: The Ravens haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 29 games, a span dating back to 2013. Can Bell finally reach the century mark? He rushed for only 79 yards total in two games against Baltimore last season. The Steelers might need him to approach 100 on Thursday night.
Ravens CB Jimmy Smith: Only one cornerback has allowed more receiving yards than Smith this season. A.J. Green abused him in Week 3. Smith does have two interceptions, but expect Vick to target him frequently. The Ravens really need him to rebound in a big way against the Steelers’ receiving group.
Ravens TE Maxx Williams: Starting tight end Crockett Gillmore won’t play, and Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier is doubtful. The opportunity is a big one for Williams, the No. 55 overall pick. The Ravens desperately need another weapon to step up for quarterback Joe Flacco. Steve Smith can’t do it all for the Baltimore offense.