PITTSBURGH — If Ben Roethlisberger is going to help turn the Pittsburgh Steelers around, he’s going to have to do it on one foot.
Again.
The quarterback underwent an MRI on his left foot Monday following a 17-10 loss to Houston. His status for Sunday’s game against surprising Tennessee (3-1) remains uncertain.
Roethlisberger injured the foot in the fourth quarter but stayed on the field until the final seconds. He wore a protective boot while gingerly making his way out of the locker room.
If he plays — and Roethlisberger insists he will do everything in his power to be on the field — it won’t be the first time he’s given it a go with a bad wheel. He played the second half of the 2010 season with a broken bone in his right foot and managed to lead Pittsburgh to the AFC title.
“We saw I had to do that last year, I casted up my foot for the last half of the year,” he said. “If we have to do it, I’ll do it.”
The Titans are expecting Roethlisberger to play, boot or not boot.
“We all know what he’s accomplished and what a great player he’s been in this league and how he’s played with injuries,” coach Mike Munchak said. “We’re assuming he’s going to be healthy and ready to go.”
Pittsburgh (2-2) certainly needs him under center. If Roethlisberger can’t start then 36-year-old Charlie Batch would get the nod against the Titans.
Coach says Hillis not being penalized.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur was adamant that running back Peyton Hillis’ limited playing time Sunday had nothing to do with his contract situation.
Hillis, who is seeking a contract extension from the Browns following his 1,200-yard season, had just 10 carries on Sunday in the Browns’ 31-13 loss to Tennessee.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Shefter reported there were whispers in Cleveland’s locker room that Hillis’ contract issues were a contributing factor in him missing the Dolphins’ game.
Shurmur addressed the report following Sunday’s 31-13 loss to the Titans and spent a large portion of his news conference on Monday talking about Hillis’ status.
As far as Shurmur’s concerned, the matter is over.
“The young man was sick and he didn’t play,” Shurmur said. “OK, that’s the end of it. He played yesterday and I think that’s what the important thing is. Two weeks ago he didn’t play. We played the Miami Dolphins and won. Yesterday, he was a significant contributor and we didn’t win.”
Shurmur insisted Hillis remains a big part of Cleveland’s offense and isn’t being penalized for sitting out last week.
• Pro Bowl center Alex Mack underwent emergency surgery to have his appendix removed, one day after he felt sick but played all 87 snaps in Cleveland’s loss to Tennessee.
Also, cornerback Joe Haden, arguably the team’s best player this season, sprained his left knee. Shurmur said an MRI revealed the injury and he expects Haden to “miss some time.”
Johnson nursing hamstring.
Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson is nursing an injured right hamstring and his availability for Sunday’s game against Oakland is uncertain as the team seeks other medical opinions.
Coach Gary Kubiak said that Johnson will “miss some time,” though he said that could range from three to four days to a “few weeks.”
Kubiak also says backup running back Ben Tate is day to day with a groin injury.
Footnotes.
New York Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas is out for the season with a torn left Achilles tendon after suffering the injury in the team’s 34-17 loss at Baltimore on Sunday.
• Titans coach Mike Munchak says safety Chris Hope will need surgery on his broken left forearm and likely will be out four to six weeks.
