Steelers’ Brown questionable vs. Cincinnati today

PITTSBURGH — Steelers AllPro wide receiver Antonio Brown is uncertain to play in the team’s biggest game of the season, listed as ques- tionable for a must-win, regular-season finale at home against Cincinnati today. He missed all three practices this week with a knee injury, and coach Mike Tomlin said the team sent Brown for further evaluation on Friday.

Tomlin said Brown first began experiencing knee discomfort following the team’s loss last Sunday at New Orleans. He caught 14 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

“I gave him a (veteran’s day off ) Wednesday like I give to a lot of guys,” Tom- lin said. “(He) got in here (Thursday) and didn’t feel comfortable enough to do it. We sent him for tests (Friday). We’ll get the results of those tests and have more information.”

Tomlin didn’t rule Brown out of today’s game.

Pittsburgh needs a win against Cincinnati and help from the Cleveland Browns to continue its season.

The Steelers would win the AFC North for a third straight year and qualify for the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season if Pittsburgh wins and Cleveland defeats the Baltimore Ravens on the road.

Having Brown would cer- tainly help. The four-time AllPro leads the NFL with a single-season franchise record of 15 touchdown receptions. He’s also tied for seventh in the league with 104 receptions and ninth with 1,297 yards receiving.

Brown needs six catches today to reach 110 receptions for the fourth time in his career, the second-most such seasons in NFL history. He is three yards from becom- ing the sixth player with five or more 1,300-yard receiv- ing seasons and 103 yards away from being the third player who has five or more seasons with 1,400 yards.

More pressing for the Steelers is continuing their historic run of making the playoffs.

“I don’t care about anything but winning this football game,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “Because nothing matters if you don’t.”