Nov 1, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Mike Tomlin is keeping his options open.

The Steelers head coach spent nearly as much time doing a linguistic tango at his weekly press conference as star wide receiver Antonio Brown did doing the real tango on “Dancing with the Stars.”

The topic?

Not only if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be back on the field when the Steelers (4-3) come out of their bye week Sunday at Baltimore (3-4), but will other injured players such as defensive end Cam Heyward and right tackle Marcus Gilbert.

“A number of guys that have missed time in recent weeks due to injury, have worked and will continue to work,” Tomlin said. “Like always, we will let their reaction to that work be our guide for us. We will let the quality of that work be a guide for us in terms of their availability in this game.”

While acknowledging Roethlisberger, Heyward and Gilbert all practiced – on a limited basis in the case of Roethlisberger – last week and again Monday, Tomlin wasn’t ready to declare any of those injured players as being ready to take the field against the Ravens.

As for Roethlisberger, who missed the team’s most recent game, a 27-16 loss to New England Oct. 23, Tomlin’s lack of clarity might be warranted.

Sunday will mark 20 days since Roethlisberger had a minor surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee. Though it’s a positive sign the quarterback participated in some light throwing last week and was a limited participant in Monday’s practice, Tomlin acknowledged he’s more at the mercy of the healing process with his star quarterback.

“I haven’t put any parameters on it,” Tomlin said of how much he needs to see Roethlisberger practice. “Really, I’m just looking at it day by day, deciding what opportunities we’re going to give to him on a given day, like we did (Monday). What he’s able to do and then waiting for the next day to see the ramifications or result of that work.”

Thus far, Roethlisberger hasn’t suffered a setback. But the Steelers also must balance the process of finding out about Roethlisberger’s health with getting backup Landry Jones enough reps to be ready to face the Ravens.

“My mindset doesn’t change,” said Jones, who threw for 281 yards and one touchdown in the loss to the Patriots. “Whether I’m the starter or the backup, I’m going to prepare the same way.”

But what is affected is the amount of work he gets with the starting unit during the practice week. Jones split time doing that with Roethlisberger Monday and said it’s a positive sign Roethlisberger has been back on the practice field.

“I would think so, but I’m no doctor,” Jones said.

What the Steelers are concerned about is rushing their star quarterback back too soon.

Roethlisberger is 2-5 in his career in game in which he comes back from an injury, including a loss to Cincinnati last season in which he threw one touchdown and three interceptions. Overall, he has thrown nine TD passes and 10 interceptions in games when he has returned from injury, leading some to surmise he comes back too soon.

He did, however, lead the team to a win coming off the bench against Cleveland two weeks later after suffering a foot injury against Oakland that caused Tomlin to start Jones and use Roethlisberger as the backup for the first time since his rookie season.

Jones was injured in the first quarter and Roethlisberger threw for 379 yards and three touchdowns, setting an NFL record for passing yards for a quarterback coming off the bench.

Tomlin said there is a chance Roethlisberger could be used in a similar capacity this week.

“I think all cards are on the table,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin said he has been impressed by tight end Ladarius Green thus far in practice but the team isn’t yet ready to activate him from the PUP list. Green, the team’s big free agent acquisition on the offseason, began practicing last Tuesday, meaning the team still has two weeks to decide whether to place him on the active roster. … Tomlin said offensive lineman Cody Wallace is the only player declared out for this week. Wallace has yet to practice this season. … Safety Shamarko Thomas (groin) and running back DeAngelo Williams (knee) also have a chance to play this week.