Steelers News: Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones, Defense

The Steelers return home battered and bruised from an ugly loss in Miami only to have to face the Patriots this week.

While the team recovers and reloads for the next challenge we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Tuesday, Oct. 18th.

No timetable set

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger underwent an arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Monday morning stemming from an injury he sustained in the 30-15 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin is normally not very detailed in his injury updates but he did release a statement.

“Ben Roethlisberger underwent a successful outpatient arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this morning. He is now recovering at home and is expected to make a full recovery. Though we do not know a specific timetable for when he will be able to return to the field, we are confident this injury is not long-term.” – Mike Tomlin

The whole talk about this team has been as long as Roethlisberger and the other key parts remain healthy, they can go all the way to the top. Assuming that Sunday’s stinker in Miami was just a one-off and not a sign of problems to come I have to really hope this isn’t a long-term injury.

What’s it gonna be?

Realistically, Roethlisberger is going to be on the sidelines for Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots. There’s just no way he goes from a knee scope to playing in the same week. Landry Jones told Teresa Varley on Monday that he’s not sure of what will happen but he’ll be prepared.

I should friggin hope so, Landry. This is the moment where you need to realize that being Ben Roethlisberger’s backup can be the greatest job ever, just look at Charlie Batch. The man had it made for years. You just go out there in preseason, do your thing and then when it’s time to play for real you hold the friggin clipboard.

Should the situation arise where you have to actually enter a game you need to not suck. This is pretty important. It shouldn’t even be that hard. You’ve literally been a part of this offense since its inception. If you can’t perform the basic tasks this weekend that’s it. Doneskis.

You got some splainin to do

So the defense has been pretty much the bend-but-don’t-break unit we all thought they’d be. They’ve even surpassed that in some cases. Then they travel to Miami and let the Dolphins accrue more rushing yards against them then they have in their three previous games combined.

Former NFL coach Brian Billick told the Good Morning Football crew that Pittsburgh’s defense should be the bigger worry from that stinker of a loss in Miami. Whatever was going on with Roethlisberger going down didn’t have to also mean the defense should’ve collapsed as well.

They’re going to need to tighten some things up before Tom Brady and Co. come to town this weekend, for sure.