QB Jones to debut as the starter

PITTSBURGH — Landry Jones is having a hard time digesting it all.

Jones spent two-plus seasons wearing sweatpants or holding a clipboard on game days as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ third-string quarterback. Now Jones will likely find himself as a starter for the first time in his three-year career Sunday at Kansas City after a stunning performance in relief of Michael Vick last week in a 25-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

“It’s been a wild ride since Sunday, that’s for sure,” Jones said Wednesday.

Jones made his NFL debut when he replaced Vick, who strained his right hamstring, in the third quarter with the Steelers trailing 10-6. He rallied them to victory by completing 8 of 12 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, both to Martavis Bryant.

“It’s just different, because you actually feel like you contributed something,” Jones said. “I’ve been here for three years now and haven’t gotten to play. I feel like I have contributed, but not in a way I felt like I could. It’s fun to know you actually had a part in the game.”

Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a limited participant in practice for the second Wednesday in a row. He sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sept. 27 in a victory over the Rams at St. Louis.

Vick started the three games that Roethlisberger has sat out but was forced out of last week’s game with a strained left hamstring. He did not participate in practice Wednesday.

Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said the team is preparing this week with the idea that Jones will be the starter because he is the only healthy quarterback on the roster. However, a starter has not been officially chosen.

“You never what’s going to happen on Sunday. Ben and Mike are real competitive guys, so I’m sure they are going to do everything they can to get ready to play,” Jones said. “I’ll be excited whether I play or not, but it’d be awesome to get a whole week of practice in and go into the game really prepared.”