Nov 13, 2015 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – There’s more subterfuge between the Steelers and Browns this week than between the U.S. and Russia during the Cold War.

That might be an exaggeration, but only slightly.

The Steelers (5-4) and Browns (2-7) list their starting quarterbacks as questionable to play when the two teams meet Sunday at Heinz Field.

This is despite the fact neither Ben Roethlisberger for the Steelers nor Josh McCown for the Browns were full participants in a practice this week.

Earlier in the week, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he would leave the door “slightly ajar” for Roethlisberger to play, despite suffering a mid-foot sprain in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s 38-35 win over Oakland.

But Roethlisberger did not practice Wednesday and was limited on Thursday and Friday. Landry Jones appears to be in line to make his second career start for the Steelers.

Roethlisberger is still holding out hope, saying he could play despite not practicing much.

“I think it helps that I know the offense well enough,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s always one of those things that if you had to, you just go no-huddle and do a lot of things like that. We’ll see how it goes. It’s always coach’s decision.”

McCown, meanwhile, suffered a rib injury Nov. 1 in a loss to Arizona. He practiced on a limited basis this week, but backup Johnny Manziel, who started in a 31-10 loss to Cincinnati last week, got the majority of the practice snaps.

“I won’t say I don’t know (who the starter will be),” Browns head coach Mike Pettine said after his team’s practice Friday. “But it’s just from an information standpoint we have our plan built to be either way.

“If (McCown) is good to go, then he would start. I wouldn’t have him inactive. Austin Davis will be up; it’ll just be a question of whether he’s the two or the three.”

While Roethlisberger is questionable, the Steelers list four players, including outside linebacker James Harrison, as out. Harrison will miss the game with swelling in his knee, while tight end Matt Spaeth, linebacker Terence Garvin and safety Shamarko Thomas are out with knee issues.

The Steelers had myriad other players miss time in practice this week but all are listed as probable, including linebacker Ryan Shazier, running back DeAngelo Williams, fullback Will Johnson, right tackle Marcus Gilbert and nose tackle Steve McLendon.

Cleveland, however, will be missing two key players in the secondary: cornerback Joe Haden and safety Donte Whitner. Both suffered concussions against the Bengals and have yet to pass the NFL concussion protocol.