Dobbs set to start Friday at QB against Buccaneers

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Josh Dobbs will start at quarterback in the preseason opener Friday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Heinz Field and will be replaced at some undetermined point by Mason Rudolph.

But he also said he has plans to use free- agent Devlin Hodges, who has opened the eyes of the coaching staff at training camp with his accuracy and decisionmaking.

Ben Roethlisberger will not play against the Buccaneers and, if recent history holds true, is not expected to do so until the third preseason game in Tennessee.

Roethlisberger was the only veteran Tomlin identified as not playing in the preseason opener, but acknowledged “there will be some established guys who won’t play.”

Included on that list are center Maurkice Pouncey, who has not practiced the past two days, guards David DeCastro and Ramon Foster, defensive end Cam Heyward and cornerback Joe Haden.

Tomlin said he will rotate kickers Chis Boswell and Matthew Wright and punters Jordan Berry and Ian Berryman on every other kick against the Buccaneers, regardless of the circumstance.

Asked about Boswell’s performance so far, Tomlin said, “He’s been solid but we haven’t done anything yet. We’re just beginning to unfold the story lines in terms of the consistency there.”

Haden hurt

Haden had his foot stepped on in team drills and left the practice field, but his injury is not believed to be serious, per multiple sources. Haden was injured breaking up a pass on one of the first plays of 11- on- 11 Wednesday at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. Haden was not expected to play against the Buccaneers.