Roethlisberger could start, be bumped to second-team or benched.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Detroit Lions Saturday night in preseason action at Heinz Field.
Steelers’ defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will be honored during the pregame coin toss, to recognize his recent induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. LeBeau played 14 seasons in Detroit from 1959-1972.
LeBeau has been a fixture on Pittsburgh’s sideline for the past seven years; however, one Steeler who may or may not be a fixture on the field Saturday night, is Ben Roethlisberger.
It has not been announced whether or not Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback will actually start against Detroit, or if he will even play at all.
“We’re going to make you come to the stadium and come check it out,” head coach Mike Tomlin said in a Steelers Digest interview.
In the event Roethlisberger is not starting against the Lions, the job could likely go to Byron Leftwich. Since starters are not typically the main focus in preseason games, Tomlin said Roethlisberger could be placed on the second-team offense, or he may not play at all.
With Roethlisberger’s suspension in the beginning of the regular season looming over the Steelers, a new starting quarterback will have to fill Big Ben’s void.
“We want to provide Ben enough opportunities to have a productive camp and preseason,” Tomlin said. “At the same time we want to have clarity with the quarterback situation, and I think we’ve stayed true to form thus far, and I think we will continue with that as we get into the games.”
The Steelers and Lions will kickoff at 7:30pm.