Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Roethlisberger not worried about concussion

Associated Press

Ben Roethlisberger played one of the worst games of his NFL career one week after sustaining a concussion in 2006. He is days removed from his fourth concussion in four years, an uncommonly high number even for an NFL player.

Regardless, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is going through “a normal week” of preparation for a pivotal game at Baltimore on Sunday night and has every intention of playing.

“It’s part of the nature of the beast of playing this game. It’s a violent, physical contact sport and there’s a chance you’re going to get hit,” Roethlisberger said Thursday. “You guys don’t talk about the bruises we have all over our body. If I showed you a bruise on my shoulder and a bruise on my shin, it wouldn’t get talked about as much.”

Roethlisberger, who is having his best season statistically despite the Steelers’ erratic play, is evidence of that.

The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback’s latest concussion occurred when his head accidentally struck the knee of Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson while he was being tackled during Pittsburgh’s 27-24 overtime loss Sunday.

The concussion was his second resulting from a hard hit in 12 months; he also was hurt during an unimportant end-of-season game against Cleveland on Dec. 28. A third concussion occurred in Atlanta in 2006, only four months after a motorcycle crash in which he wasn’t wearing a helmet left him with a concussion and numerous other injuries.

Despite that, the NFL’s most-sacked quarterback since 2004 isn’t concerned about returning so soon because Steelers players must pass post-concussion tests before they can play again.

The last time Roethlisberger played so soon after getting a concussion, he threw four interceptions — two returned for touchdowns — during a 20-13 loss to Oakland in 2006.

Steelers look at QBs: The Pittsburgh Steelers have met with experienced quarterbacks Patrick Ramsey and Todd Bouman, a sign that injured backup Charlie Batch might be out longer than the team first expected.

Batch broke his left wrist in Kansas City on Sunday, leaving second-year quarterback Dennis Dixon as the only backup to starter Ben Roethlisberger on the 53-man roster. Former Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko is on the practice squad.

Turner practices: Falcons running back Michael Turner practiced lightly for the second straight day.

Turner missed last week’s 34-31 loss to the New York Giants with a high ankle sprain, and coach Mike Smith listed the Pro Bowl selection as “limited” in practice.

Jackson misses practice: St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson did not practice for the second straight day while recovering from lower back spasms, but the team remains confident he’ll play Sunday against Seattle.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo said the team was playing it safe with Jackson, who has four straight 100-yard rushing games.

Network airs curse word: The NFL Network accidentally aired a vulgarity yelled by Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels as he chastised his players on the sideline of their Thanksgiving night game against the New York Giants.

Coming out of a commercial break following a series of false starts near the goal line that resulted in Denver settling for a field goal, the NFL Network showed a clip of McDaniels, who yelled at his players: “We’re trying to win the (expletive) game!”