Report: Byron Leftwich to Miss Significant Time
By Matt Shetler
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had the motto of next man up all season long and to date that motto has really been put to the test this season.
November 18, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich (4) passes under pressure from Baltimore Ravens strong safety Bernard Pollard (31) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Baltimore Ravens won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE
Now that motto could be getting tested even further.
Even though no announcement has come from the Steelers as of yet, Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network has reported that the Steelers are concerned that Byron Leftwich could miss significant time because of rib and shoulder injuries that he suffered Sunday night vs. the Ravens.
La Canfora also notes that the team plans on bringing in quarterbacks this week to work out.
Steelers concerned Leftwich will be out for a while with injuries, Big Ben in doubt for Sun so they expect to workout QBs this week
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) November 19, 2012
Leftwich was hurt tumbling into the end zone on his 31-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but the backup-turned-starter played the entire game. He appeared to be in pain as the night wore on. His deep ball was visibly off the mark, but Leftwich downplayed his condition after the game.
Near-ancient Charlie Batch remains the only healthy quarterback behind Leftwich, and La Canfora brought up the names Dennis Dixon and David Garrard as potential candidates if the Steelers look to add a quarterback.
There was also a report about Ben Roethlisberger’s condition and that coming back too soon could result in serious nerve damage for Roethlisberger.
SI’s Peter King wrote Monday that “anyone forecasting a week for him to return is guessing.” Dr. Clark Fuller, the director of Thoracic Surgery at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., told King that a premature return would put Big Ben at risk of nerve damage along with previously reported threats to the aorta.
That leaves this Steelers team in a very bad spot in search of a productive signal caller.
For now it looks as if Batch is next man up for the Steelers, but he’s not a long-term solution anymore than Leftwich was.
It looks like the Steelers will have to play things week-to-week at quarterback, but as they attempt to do so, the situation looks worse by the week.