Steelers confident Roethlisberger, Brown will play
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Tuesday he has an AC joint sprain and torn ligaments in his throwing shoulder.
Steelers’ wide receiver Antonio Brown is hit Saturday by Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict.
PITTSBURGH – All signs point toward the Steelers having quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown available when they play at Denver Sunday in an AFC Divisional Playoff game.
The news on running back DeAngelo Williams, however, wasn’t as optimistic.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that the foot injury suffered by Williams two weeks ago against Cleveland in the regular-season finale could force the veteran running back to miss a second consecutive playoff game.
“DeAngelo is on the outside looking in,” Tomlin said. “I will leave the door ajar for him. He is a savvy veteran player. If he perks up at the end of the week, I have no issue giving him an opportunity to assist us in our efforts. … I am leaving the door ajar for him. We will see where the week of rehabilitation takes us with him.”
Williams led the Steelers with 907 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns while subbing for injured Le’Veon Bell. Williams saw a foot specialist in North Carolina Monday, according to NFL.com.
If Williams is unable to play against the Broncos, Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman, who combined for 123 rushing yards and 60 more receiving Saturday against Cincinnati, would again share the running back duties.
“Their contributions, under those circumstances, were impressive, a circumstance that neither man had been in before,” Tomlin said of Toussaint and Todman, who were both participating in their first playoff game. “We don’t take that for granted. We are appreciating their growth and development in that area and their ability to deliver. They might have to do it again this week.”
Tomlin was more optimistic about the status of Roethlisberger and Brown, despite the Steelers’ quarterback telling a Pittsburgh radio station that he has an AC joint sprain (separated shoulder) and torn ligaments.
Sprains typically involve some kind of stretching or tearing of ligaments, though not necessarily a complete tear.
“I haven’t tried to throw a football since the game, and maybe that’s not even the right thing to do right away,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ll see the doctors and trainers. We’ll evaluate how I feel.
“If anything, maybe I can practice and hand off and still get some mental reps that way. We’ll see how it goes.”
Tomlin said Roethlisberger will do some work Wednesday in the Steelers’ run-game preparation portion of practice but would not throw until Friday at the earliest. Roethlisberger completed 40 of 55 passes for 380 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in a 34-27 victory over Denver at Heinz Field Dec. 20.
Roethlisberger was injured on the final play of the third quarter Saturday but returned to lead a game-winning field goal drive in the closing minute, completing 5 of 7 passes for 40 yards.
“The situation was dire,” Tom lin said, “and to be quite honest with you, I was banking on the fact that Cincinnati didn’t know he couldn’t throw it farther than 10 yards.”
The Steelers won’t have that luxury against the Broncos, who are well aware of Roethlisberger’s injury and also boast the NFL’s No. 1 defense.
Having Brown, the NFL’s leading receiver, will help.
Brown, who suffered a concussion when hit in the head by Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict during the game’s final minute. That hit contributed to a three-game suspension for Burfict. Brown remains in NFL concussion protocol.
Brown told teammates he is feeling much better, though he still must pass an ImPACT Test and other procedures before being cleared to play.
“The thought of working without A.B. is not a pleasant one, but we’ll see where it takes us,” said Tomlin, who also noted the team will follow the league’s concussion protocol.
Tomlin said that reports that outside linebackers coach Joey Porter received a game ball from the team following the win over the Bengals were “untrue.” Cincinnati’s Adam “Pacman” Jones was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct for shoving an official while going after Porter, who was on the field checking on Brown following the hit by Burfict. … Fullback Will Johnson (hamstring), linebacker Vince Williams (linebacker) and safety Robert Golden (shoulder) could be limited in practice but are expected to play against the Broncos.