LANDOVER, Md. — Byron Leftwich led two touchdown drives after Ben Roethlisberger reinjured his throwing shoulder and the Steelers beat the Redskins 23-6 on Monday night.
The Steelers’ top-rated defense had seven sacks, allowed only 221 yards and became the first team this season to intercept Jason Campbell.
Leftwich went 7-of-10 for 129 yards and a touchdown as the Steelers (6-2) beat an NFC East team for the first time in three attempts this season.
Roethlisberger was 5-of-17 for 50 yards and an interception before leaving the game at halftime, again hindered by the slightly separated shoulder that has bothered him since the second week of the season.
Roethlisberger said he hurt the shoulder on the 1-yard sneak that gave the Steelers a 10-6 lead near the end of the first half.
“I have no update on Ben at this point,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “Potentially, he was capable of going back in the game, but we went down the field with Leftwich in there to start the second half. We’ll just see how he is.”
Asked whether the injury was serious, Roethlisberger said: “I hope not. We’ll find out.”
Leftwich’s 50-yard completion to Nate Washington set up a 1-yard TD run by Willie Parker, who was back from a four-week layoff with a knee injury. Leftwich had a 5-yard scoring pass to Santonio Holmes, who returned from a one-game benching over a charge for a marijuana-related offense. Roethlisberger celebrated that touchdown by high-fiving teammates — with his left hand.
