Big Ben, Brown await word on playing
Steelers’ star o≠ensive players were hurt by the Bengals’ Burfict.
pittsburgh» The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading to Denver but are worried about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger injured his right shoulder in the third quarter of Saturday night’s wild-card win over Cincinnati when he was roughly tackled by Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Roethlisberger left the game, then returned to lead a game-winning drive. He will be evaluated this week.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown is recovering from a concussion, suffered late in the game when Burfict hit him after a pass sailed past. That earned the Burfict a 15yard penalty, which helped put the Steelers in position to kick a game-winning field goal with 14 seconds left in their 18-16 victory.
Brown’s teammates insisted the all-pro was “fine” after appearing to be briefly knocked out.
Roethlisberger told Pittsburgh media Sunday that his right shoulder is “sore” and that he is “day to day.”
The quarterback had an MRI after the game and said he was not sure how badly he was injured.
Also injured Saturday was fullback and tight end Will Johnson, who pulled a hamstring in his left leg and said he hoped to play against the Broncos. And safety Robert Golden suffered a sprained shoulder but said he will play at Denver.
The Steelers beat the Broncos 34-27 on Dec. 20, rallying from a 17-point deficit. Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler struggled in the second half of that game. Peyton Manning will start in Sunday’s divisionalround playoff.
The Broncos and Steelers have met seven times during the postseason, with Denver winning four of them, most recently four seasons ago in the wildcard round.