| The Steelers' future -- at least for Sunday's game at Cleveland -- is in the hands of veteran QB Charlie Batch. (US Presswire) |
The next man up for the Pittsburgh Steelers is the last man standing.
After injuries to starter Ben Roethlisberger and backup Byron Leftwich the past two weeks, nearly 38-year-old Charlie Batch -- the only other quarterback available on the 53-man roster -- gets the start for the Steelers (6-4) on the road at the Cleveland Browns (2-8) on Sunday.
"The changes (to the Steelers offense) will be subtle, and they will be made with an emphasis to gear toward maximizing his strengths and minimizing his weaknesses," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. "But we have a great deal of confidence in Charlie.
"One thing I can say with this quarterback situation, as uncomfortable as it may be or appear to be, it's not something that we're foreign to, unfortunately. We've been as far as three and four deep, as far as playing quarterbacks in recent years, definitely in '09 and (2010). ... We're excited about him preparing to lead us this week."
With tight end Heath Miller next in line to call the signals for the Steelers in his role as the No. 4 and emergency quarterback, the club worked out two young players -- Brian Hoyer (6-2, 215, just turned 27), who spent the past three seasons with the New England Patriots, and Mike Kafka (6-3, 225, 25), who spent the past two years with the Philadelphia Eagles.
They ultimately signed Hoyer.
"More than anything, with the two quarterbacks, we're looking at guys who have earned their livings as backups,'' Tomlin said. "And that's specific, because they're capable of being able to put together an above-the-line type of performance on a limited number of snaps. Obviously, Charlie Batch is going to get the bulk of the snaps this week and rightfully so."
Since Antonio Brown is still recovering from a high-ankle sprain after missing the past two games, and Jerricho Cotchery suffered "multiple rib fractures" at the end of Sunday night's game against the Ravens, Tomlin said two wideouts were brought in Tuesday as well.
The Steelers signed veteran Plaxico Burress, a No. 1 pick for the Steelers and player from 2000-04. He worked out for the Steelers in camp in 2011 before signing a free-agent contract with the New York Jets. He was in jail the previous two years and was out of football this season.
The other wideout tryout was by former Penn Stater Derrick Williams, who was in camp with the Steelers this season. To make room on the roster, the Steelers released running back Baron Batch and linebacker Marshall McFadden.
In other Steelers injury news, starting defensive end Ziggy Hood is questionable this week due to a lumbar spine sprain, but Tomlin expected "him to perk up by the end of the week."
Steelers RB Isaac Redman is also sidelined for now.
"Isaac Redman sustained a concussion, but he's performing well in the battery of tests that come along with that," Tomlin said. "He may be limited the early portion of the week, but we've got an arrow pointing toward his participation as long as his testing continues along the line that it has to this point."
Tomlin also said that right offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle) and safety Troy Polamalu (sprained right calf) are questionable, but will try to practice this week. Gilbert is ready for limited work, while Polamalu will run Wednesday. Each will try to progress as the week goes on, as will Brown at wideout.
Tomlin did not believe that Leftwich and Cotchery suffered season-ending injuries, while Roethlisberger "had an additional test done today and all things are very positive in terms of where he is, so we're encouraged about his status," Tomlin said, adding that he terms Roethlisberger as doubtful this week.
Lastly, Tomlin refuted a claim by some who believed Leftwich was clearly hampered by injuries and should have been replaced by Batch against the Ravens. He said there was clear, constant communication with Leftwich and the Steelers trainers and cited a pass down the middle to tight end Heath Miller and one to the sideline "with great velocity and accuracy" to Cotchery near the end of the game as proof.
"I knew that Byron had a certain level of discomfort, but I didn't see anything in his performance -- coupled with those discussions with him -- that would lead me to believe that he needed to be pulled," Tomlin said.
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