Steelers preparing as if Roethlisberger will play against Bengals
The unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the Cincinnati Bengals as if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be on the field.
The 38-year- old Roethlisberger is on the reserve/ COVID-19 list due to being considered a high-risk close contact of tight end Vance McDonald, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. Roethlisberger was placed on the list Tuesday. If he continues to test negative and avoids the development of symptoms, he would be eligible to come off the list on Saturday.
Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner doesn’t see the lack of practice time as a problem when it comes to Roethlisberger playing in Sunday’s home contest.
“We’ll prepare and continue to prepare as if Ben is playing,” Fichtner told reporters on Thursday. ” There’s been various times in his career where he has not practiced all week and played in games and played successful in games. I don’t question that one bit.”
Backup quar terbacks Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs are both receiving extra work with the first team this week. There hasn’t been a declaration over who would start if Roethlisberger can’t.
Meanwhile, Roethlisberger is staying engaged by participating in virtual meetings and communicating with the coaching staff.
Roethlisberger has passed for 1,934 yards and 18 touchdowns against four interceptions this season. MCCAFFREY COULD PLAY WEEK 11 >> Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey could return to the lineup in Week 11, NFL Network reported. McCaffrey out Sunday with a shoulder injury described by
Panthers head coach Matt Rhule as an “AC joint issue.” He was injured in the second half of the Panthers’ loss at Kansas City last week.
Rhule said Wednesday that McCaffrey is “pretty much out this week and we’ll see how it looks next week.”
McCaffrey went for a second opinion on his shoulder Wednesday. NFL Network reported Thursday that visit sparked optimism the All-Pro running back could miss only one game with the shoulder problem. RAVENS: NO CLOSE CONTACTS TO LATEST PLAYER TO TEST POSITIVE >> The Baltimore Ravens found out Thursday morning that another player has tested positive for COVID-19, but the team said there are no highrisk contacts of the player. The unidentified player is in self quarantine, the team said.
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey was just activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list after 10 days of quarantining.
RATINGS DOWN AT MIDSEASON POINT >> The NFL was not expected to be immune from the ratings declines that have hit all sports this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and presidential election. But the declines are not as bad as feared at the beginning of the season.
Games are averaging 15.1 million television and digital viewers, according to the league and Nielsen, a 6% decline from last year. Despite the decreases, all but four of the top 30 shows since the season began have been NFL games.