Roethlisberger hopes to return this Sunday
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has missed two games with a rib and shoulder injury, hopes to play this Sunday.
"I'm going to try," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It's killing me to watch."
The Steelers fell to the Cleveland Browns 20-14 on Sunday and fell to 6-5 on the season. Pittsburgh takes on the AFC North division-leading Baltimore Ravens (9-2) in a rematch this Sunday.
ESPN reported that Roethlisberger will start soft-tossing a football this week to test his range of motion and how much pain he can work through. Team doctors have determined that Roethlisberger's rib has healed enough that further damage is no longer a risk.
The Steelers were down to third-stringer Charlie Batch against the Browns, with backup Byron Leftwich out with his own rib and shoulder injuries. Pittsburgh struggled, turning the ball over eight times.
"I don't know what kind of medicine the Steelers will put Ben Roethlisberger on this week, but they're going to give him something," running back Ray Rice told SI.com.
Baltimore beat Pittsburgh 13-10 on Nov. 18.
