Ben Roethlisberger likely to miss Browns game with foot injury

By Michael Bode

Already missing star running back Le’Veon Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers will now face the Cleveland Browns without star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after he suffered a left foot injury on Sunday when Aldon Smith of the Oakland Raiders sacked him late in the fourth quarter. The Steelers initially believed the injury to be the dreaded LisFranc injury, so they are relieved the diagnosis is being referred to as a foot sprain.

However, especially with a bye week after the Browns game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the expectation is the Steelers will allow Roethlisberger to rest.

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Pittsburgh has already dealt with an absence of Roethlisberger in 2015 when he missed four games due to an MCL sprain suffered early in the season. The Steelers managed to keep steady by winning two games during the stretch though their passing game took a significant hit as their output dropped from 308 to 163 yards per contest without Roethlisberger. Landry Jones, the expected starter against the Browns, did well in relief on Sunday as he led a game-winning drive against the Raiders in which he went 4-for-6 with 79 yards passing. However, in his lone start in 2015, he did struggle in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a 16-for-29 209 yard effort along with two interceptions and a lone touchdown.

The Cleveland Browns will certainly not miss Ben Roethlisberger sitting out the game. Big Ben is 18-2 in his career against the Browns completing 62 percent of his passes for 8.29 yards per attempt with 29 touchdowns to just 14 interceptions and a 95.2 QB rating. However, Mike Pettine-led teams evened those odds a bit as he is 1-1 versus Roethlisberger led Steeler teams after splitting the series in 2014. In the Browns 31-10 victory, the Browns defense had limited Roethlisberger to 21-for-42 passing for a mere 228 yards with a touchdown and interception and a relatively paltry 64.4 QBrating.

But with the way the 2015 Browns season is going on defense, any added advantage is welcome.

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