Oct 4, 2015 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Mike Vick has been through a lot in his long NFL career, some of it from self-inflicted problems.

But the Steelers’ 23-20 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday night is one he is going to carry with him for a long time.

Vick’s passing numbers in the game while subbing for injured Ben Roethlisberger – 19 of 26 for 124 yards and a touchdown – don’t look terrible at face value.

It was the completions he didn’t make – most notably overthrowing Antonio Brown on fourth-and-1 from the Baltimore 33 – that left him shaken after a loss that dropped the Steelers to 2-2.

“Probably the toughest (loss) of my career,” said Vick, whose longest completion in the game was 18 yards. “We had our chances to win the game. I had plays that I could’ve made, but didn’t. It’s disappointing.

“That last pass to Antonio, that one is going to haunt me for a long time.”

Vick didn’t sign with the Steelers until Aug. 25, missing out on offseason workouts and most of training camp. He got just one full practice to prepare for Baltimore because the Steelers played four days after Roethlisberger suffered a sprained MCL and bone bruise in his left knee in a win at St. Louis.

The lack of preparation showed against the Ravens, especially on passes to Brown.

When Vick did make a good pass to Brown, as he did in the end zone in the second quarter, the usually sure-handed All-Pro receiver was unable to come down with the ball.

At other times, such as on that final pass, Vick simply couldn’t deliver the ball to Brown.

Though he caught five passes for 42 yards, Brown saw a number of streaks end.

Coming into the game, he had caught at least seven passes in an NFL-record 14 consecutive games. He also had streaks of 21 consecutive games with at least five catches and 70 yards and 35 consecutive games of at least five catches and 50 yards stopped. Both also were NFL records.

Getting Brown on the same page with Vick, who is expected to make at least three more starts in place of Roethlisberger, will be a big part of what the Steelers work on this week as they prepare to head to San Diego Oct. 12.

So, too, will be getting Vick acclimated with tight end Heath Miller.

Miller, who is second on the Steelers’ all-time receiving list, had just one reception for one yard against the Ravens, largely going unnoticed by Vick.

“Maybe there were times when I should’ve tried to get Heath Miller in the game,” Vick admitted. “We have a lot of work to do. We can find a way.”

Because they don’t play until next Monday night, the Steelers will get at least two extra practices this week with which to better prepare Vick, starting today.

The Steelers also get receiver Martavis Bryant back from his four-game suspension for violating the league drug policy. Bryant is expected to practice today.

“He’s a great player,” said receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. “I always tell people that he has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL. It will be great to have him back.”

The extra practices and addition of Bryant should help Vick perform better moving forward and help the Steelers offense look a little closer to normal. It might not be quite as good as it is with Roethlisberger at quarterback, but that’s hardly a realistic expectation.

“We just need to get it done,” Vick said.

Thursday night’s start by Vick was the third of his career at Heinz Field. Two have gone to overtime. … Opponents are 4-11 on fourth-down attempts against the Steelers this season. … The Steelers signed defensive end Caushaud Lyons, who was released Wednesday to make room for linebacker Anthony Chickillo on the active roster, to their practice squad. Chickillo had been on the practice squad.