Ben Roethlisberger would probably need to have a limb amputated before he concedes that he’s going to sit out a game.
Despite being carted off the field with a mid-foot sprain Sunday’s 38-35 win over the Raiders, Roethlisberger said on his weekly radio show that he won’t rule himself out for Sunday’s home game against the Browns.
#Steelers Ben Roethlisberger tells 93.7 The Fan. “I’m not even going to rule myself out this week. I can walk on it.”
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 10, 2015
Well, thousands of people will “walk” into Heinz Field to watch Sunday’s game. It’s doubtful, however, that any of them will get a tryout.
Roethlisberger has played with injuries at various points in his career. He won a pivotal late-season game at Baltimore on a broken foot in 2010. He played with a high-ankle sprain in 2011. When he missed four games with an MCL sprain and bone bruise earlier this season, he wanted to come back after two games.
This time, Roethlisberger should just let his foot heal and take advantage of the Steelers’ bye in Week 11.
The #Steelers not ruling Roethlisberger out vs #Browns HC Tomlin “leaving door slightly ajar” @WPXI @WPXIFinalWord
— Bill Phillips (@WPXI_BPhillips) November 10, 2015
Even without Roethlisberger and Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers (5-4) don’t deserve to make the playoffs if they can’t beat the Browns (2-7) at home. They haven’t lost to the Browns in Pittsburgh since 2003.
While that streak coincides with Roethlisberger’s career, which began in 2004, the Steelers have used backup quarterbacks to take care of business against the Browns in both of their championship seasons in this century.
Charlie Batch led them to their 2005 home victory over the Browns and Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon finished up a win over the Browns in 2008 after Roethlisberger left with an injury.
Landry Jones is capable of filling Batch’s role as the guy who can come in and win a game or two when Roethlisberger is out. Jones has a 95.7 passer rating. He’s only attempted 47 passes, but he’s 13th among quarterbacks who have thrown at least that many passes.
The more game experience Jones gets, the better off the Steelers will be if the 33-year-old Roethlisberger does have to sit out half a season or more in the future. Roethlisberger could play through significant injuries when he was in his 20s. Now, it’s a little more dicey.
That’s why the Steelers used a fourth-round draft pick on Jones in 2013.
Tomlin: Not opposed to letting Landry Jones run no-huddle offense.
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) November 10, 2015
If Roethlisberger rests for two weeks then can’t go in Week 12 at Seattle, that will be a taller order for the Steelers. If they absorb the loss there and head into December 6-5 they’ll need a healthy Roethlisberger for a closing stretch that includes three of their final five games on the road. All five of those games are against AFC foes and therefore crucial when it comes to tiebreakers.
It’s more important for the Steelers to have Roethlisberger for that final leg of their schedule than for Sunday’s game against the woeful Browns.