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Roethlisberger hopes to shoulder load against Broncos

4 min read
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PITTSBURGH – Ben Roethlisberger’s injury history looks like a laundry list of body parts.

Head injuries? Check.

Foot, hand and knee issues? Check, check and check.

Sprained shoulder? Check.

Roethlisberger has had them all, though they seldom sideline him for a lengthy period.

Roethlisberger is again dealing with a sprained right shoulder as he prepares to lead the Steelers in an AFC Divisional Playoff game Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

And while pain tolerance will be an issue, Roethlisberger, who did not practice Wednesday, does have a history of playing through injuries, even those to his right shoulder. The results have been a mixed bag.

In 2006, Roethlisberger sprained the sternoclavicular joint in his right shoulder following a hit by Baltimore’s Bart Scott, one of nine sacks suffered by the Steelers’ quarterback in a 27-0 loss against the Ravens. He fought through the injury and played the following week against Tampa Bay, leading the Steelers to a 20-3 victory. Roethlisberger completed only 12 of 25 passes for 198 yards, but he did throw a pair of touchdown passes.

In 2012, he suffered a much more devastating injury to his right shoulder while being sacked by Kansas City’s Justin Houston. Roethlisberger sprained his shoulder and also suffered a dislocated rib in the third quarter and did not return to the game.

Roethlisberger returned to play a month later – missing three games – and threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-24 loss to San Diego, a game in which the Steelers fell behind 20-3 at the half.

Roethlisberger, who missed four games earlier this season with a knee injury, suffered a sprained right shoulder on the final play of the third quarter last Saturday night in Pittsburgh’s 18-16 playoff win at Cincinnati. He was sacked by Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict, landing on the shoulder.

Roethlisberger returned late in the fourth quarter to lead the Steelers on a game-winning field goal drive, completing five of seven passes for 40 yards. But his arm strength was severely limited in the game. Roethlisberger said if that’s the case Sunday, then he won’t play.

“If you can’t throw the ball 25, 30 yards downfield, I think you’re hurting your team,” Roethlisberger said. “So, I don’t think we put ourselves in that situation. But if we can find any way possible to get out there, whether it’s with pain medicine or whatever, if I can deal with the pain and make plays … then I’ll deal with it.”

The Steelers likely won’t be able to throw the ball 55 times as they did in a 34-27 victory over Denver last month. Pittsburgh all but abandoned its rushing attack in that game, gaining only 23 yards on 17 carries, including three kneel downs by Roethlisberger to end the game.

“We have to be able to run it well,” said Steelers guard Ramon Foster. “That’s be best way to keep him from getting hit.”

But much of the reason the Steelers went to the air so much was because of the defenses the Broncos used. Despite starting safeties T.J. Ward and Darien Stewart missing that game, the Broncos played a “penny” defense, which employs seven defensive backs. The Steelers liked the matchups against Denver’s reserve safeties.

“We were going to throw it when they had that defense on the field,” Roethlisberger said. “They had some injuries in the secondary, so we expect them to be back and healthy. They have the No. 1 defense in the world for a reason. They’re really, really good.”

The Steelers expect a solid performance by Roethlisberger, even if he is hurting.

“Ben is Ben, regardless of whether he is hurt or not,” said wide receiver Martavis Bryant. “He’s going to go out and play to the best of his ability.”

In addition to Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown (concussion), defensive end Cam Heyward (back), linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee) and running back DeAngelo Williams (foot) did not practice. … Safety Robert Golden (shoulder), fullback Will Johnson (hamstring) and linebacker Vince Williams (hamstring) were limited in practice. … For Denver, linebacker Von Miller (illness), guard Robert Myers (illness) and quarterback Brock Osweiller (knee) did not practice.

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