NFL teams
ESPN.com news services 11y

Ben Roethlisberger out vs. Ravens

NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.

A team source told ESPN that following Friday's practice, the Steelers were extremely pessimistic about Roethlisberger playing. The official injury report lists Roethlisberger as out.

Roethlisberger is not pain-free and continues to have problems with his injured right shoulder, affecting his ability to create enough torque to have velocity on his passes.

Since taking Roethlisberger in the first round of the 2004 draft, the Steelers are 0-6 against the Ravens when he does not play.

With Roethlisberger unable to go, the Steelers once again will turn to 37-year-old Charlie Batch, who threw three interceptions in Sunday's 20-14 loss to Cleveland.

Byron Leftwich started two weeks ago in a 13-10 loss to the Ravens but suffered multiple rib fractures and remains out.

Roethlisberger also practiced in a limited role Thursday with the first team, but struggled, according to a team source.

Roethlisberger threw briefly early in practice Friday but was in a sweatsuit watching by the time practice ended.

The lengthy list of issues still plaguing Roethlisberger, more than two weeks after he sprained his right shoulder and suffered a dislocated rib in the Steelers' 16-13 overtime win against Kansas City, suggests he's at least a week away from giving it a go.

Though the pain isn't quite as intense as it was in the days after Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali drilled Roethlisberger into the soggy Heinz Field turf, the two-time Super Bowl winner still can sleep only in certain positions.

The Steelers (6-5) have struggled in Roethlisberger's absence, needing overtime to beat the woeful Chiefs after he left the game. They looked listless at times and sloppy at others in the losses to Baltimore and Cleveland.

Also ruled out for the game against the Ravens is linebacker LaMarr Woodley. Guard Willie Colon is listed as questionable, but the Steelers will welcome back receiver Antonio Brown and safety Troy Polamalu. The Pro Bowl standouts practiced all week and officially are listed as probable.

Information from ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder and The Associated Press was used in this report.

^ Back to Top ^