Batch out for the season

[SD2042]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4682002

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, who played just four plays after replacing Ben Roethlisberger in an overtime loss to Kansas City, has a wrist injury that requires surgery and will sideline him for six weeks.

This leaves the Steelers (6-4) in a precarious situation. Roethlisberger left with concussion-like symptoms with 12:21 remaining in overtime after he took a knee to the helmet while being sacked in the eventual 27-24 loss to the Chiefs.


AFC North blog
ESPN.com's James Walker writes about all things AFC North in his division blog.

• Blog network: NFL Nation


Ben Roethlisberger has told teammates and friends that he's fine and will play against the Ravens, ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen reports. He was examined Monday and his status for Sunday night's game in Baltimore is uncertain.


The Steelers' third-string quarterback is Dennis Dixon, a fifth-round pick out of Oregon in 2008 who has thrown one pass in his NFL career.

Sunday's action was Batch's first since 2007. He sat out last season with a broken collarbone.


Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that he was not certain how severe Roethlisberger's injury might be.

"He took a blow, needless to say, it was a concussion-oriented thing so I doubt he was going to come back into the football game," Tomlin said. "I don't have a lot of information in terms of where he is or his level of availability. We will have more information as we proceed."


It was the second loss in a row for the Steelers, who have fallen twice to division rival Cincinnati and were without injured Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu.

Guard Chris Kemoeatu also was injured in the game, after suffering what the Post-Gazette reported is a sprained MCL in the right knee.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[el loco]

Dixon looked great during the exhibition, but dang that was quite a few snaps ago, and the Ravens aren't really the type of team you want to throw a rookie QB at imo. Who is the 3rd string QB now?

[SD2042]

Right now the invisible man.