All Eyes On Roethlisberger's Return in Pittsburgh
By Christina Rivers
There has been a lot of focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers this week as they get ready to host the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. With veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger expected to return to the lineup, there remain some lingering doubts over whether he is rushing his return after suffering a knee injury and missing the last four games; but not from head coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers are looking for their fourth consecutive win over the Bengals after defeating them 27-17 in December 2014.
Steelers versus Bengals
Historically, this series has been ongoing since 1970 and Pittsburgh leads it both at home and away. Both teams have pushed for playoff berths over the past few seasons and how they played each other often determined who went deeper into the season. Head coach Mike Tomlin said in his Tuesday press conference, "This is a big week for us, AFC North football, and an undefeated divisional opponent coming into our place...it's a big week for us bouncing back from a negative performance to get back on the winning side of things and get in front of our fans and perform."
Roethlisberger is anxious to play
Although hindered last week after practice caused inflammation in his left knee, Roethlisberger remains excited to take the field on Sunday. He insisted that the aching in his knee that caused him to sit against Kansas City wasn't extreme. "I think it was more just a pain, an inflammation setback," Roethlisberger said. "I don't think it was a negative injury, or more of an injury type of setback. It was just putting an extra heavy load on it and pay for it...just with achiness, inflammation and things like that." Roethlisberger continued, saying that he was disappointed that he wasn't able to play but that the doctors reassured him he hadn't hurt the MCL or bone bruise, but had overused the leg during practice. "Once I got through the initial shock of worrying that something happened, then I was fine with it."
While Roethlisberger has continued to work fully with his receivers in practice, there is one caveat. If his knee isn't 100 percent, he won't be in the game. "I think if there is a restriction I shouldn't be out there. That's my opinion," said Roethlisberger. "It's going to be a coach's decision what happens if I play...but you can't go out there if you are restricted in any way." Unconcerned about playing after missing four games and having the wear a brace, Roethlisberger wants to place his concerns on what his team will do on the field. "I can't afford to have one," he said about an qualms over using a brace. "I'm not going to think about it. I have been wearing (the brace) to work out, to do some things in, just to try and get used to it. I have never worn one before. It's something definitely new...I don't want to think about what I've had, what I am wearing...I just want to go out and play the game of football."
"We don't have any reservations or limitations about (Roethlisberger's) availability," said Tomlin on Tuesday. "We will keep an eye on him as he participates this week in practice to make sure there is no negative reaction to that practice participation. But as I sit here today, we are comfortable with where he is in his overall availability this week."
Should Roethlisberger's knee limit his ability to be free of restriction, Tomlin said that the coaching staff will receive guidance from the team's medical staff but would not rule out Michael Vick or Landry Jones from being able to play if needed. "I think the prudent thing at this point is to proceed with the two healthy guys at the quarterback position, in terms of building a plan. And we will let (Vick's) overall availability be determined by his health. At the end of the day, we're going to prepare the guys who are healthy, just like we did a week ago."
Christina Rivers has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers and National Football League professionally as a journalist and photographer for over a decade. Rivers studied Exercise Physiology and Sports Psychology at Brigham Young University as a student-athlete. Christina is a freelance writer covering all things NFL as well as a published author. Her work can be found on
Examiner.com.