08-17-2006, 06:50 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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All Star
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,665
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Quote:
LATROBE, Pa. -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's right thumb injury apparently is not serious and he could play Saturday night against the Minnesota Vikings.
Roethlisberger missed the last few minutes of practice Wednesday after hitting his thumb on a shoulder pad, helmet or catching it in a jersey. He suffered a ligament strain. Coach Bill Cowher said it was difficult to tell on video tape how the injury occurred.
Roethlisberger was examined before practice ended and returned for the conditioning and stretching drills that end each workout. He was held out of practice Thursday, and the team will decide Friday if he will play Saturday in the second of the Steelers' four exhibition games.
"He feels better today than he did yesterday," Cowher said Thursday. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow. If he feels OK tomorrow, he'll play Saturday. There's no indication we have to do any kind of tests or anything."
If Roethlisberger can't play, backup Charlie Batch will start but won't play any longer than the rest of the starters, or about one quarter. Rookie Omar Jacobs and free agent Shane Boyd would play the rest of the way.
Last season, Roethlisberger injured the thumb Nov. 28 against the Colts and was listed as probable on the remaining injury updates the rest of the season. He did not miss any games because of the injury, although Roethlisberger said it was painful.
Cowher said there is no indication this latest injury is related to last year's. Despite breaking his jaw and nose in a June 12 motorcycle accident, Roethlisberger has missed no practice time since camp began July 28 and has thrown the ball increasingly well as camp has progressed, hitting on several deep passes early in practice Wednesday.
"He's been fine, there's been no problem with it this whole camp," Cowher said. "I mean, he's been throwing the ball pretty good. At this point, all indications are this is day to day, so we'll see how he feels."
Cowher also said wide receiver Hines Ward and tight end Jerame Tuman won't play in the game because of hamstring injuries.[/b]
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2552370 |
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