Ben: Mid-foot sprain
PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will miss at least Sunday’s home game against the Cleveland Browns with a mid-foot sprain.
Roethlisberger sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 38-35 win over the Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin didn’t have much of an update at game’s end and said only that his quarterback was having an MRI “as we speak.”
But many sources came out saying that Roethlisberger had sustained a mid-foot sprain and would miss the Cleveland game. Pittsburgh has its bye after the Browns game, so Roethlisberger may be able to return by the team’s next game out, a tough trip to Seattle.
Meanwhile, the Steelers will prepare for the Cleveland game with Landry Jones as their starter. It will be Jones’ second career start.
“I thought Landry Jones came in and did a great job today,” Tomlin said of Jones’ performance in Sunday’s 38-35 win over the Raiders. “That’s what we expect.”
Tomlin, though, was not ready to let the injury bug mess with his next-man-up philosophy of coaching.
“We’re not concerned about that,” he said. “You can waste a lot of timer focusing on the guys who aren’t available to you. We’re just focused on the guys who are and how we can put together the right mix to be successful, how we can utilize their skills, how we can work to minimize their weaknesses individually and collectively.
“Injuries are as much a part of football as blocking and tackling. It’s unfortunate, we don’t like it, but we embrace the challenge that comes with it. We’re not looking for excuses.”
The Steelers have been hit hard by injuries, especially on offense. Running back Le’Veon Bell, center Maurkice Pouncey and left tackle Kelvin Beachum are all on injured reserve and Roethlisberger already has missed parts of four games with a knee injury.