Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee and will miss the next four to six weeks, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
More than halfway through the third quarter of Sunday's game against St. Louis, Rams safety Mark Barron sacked Roethlisberger, hitting him low just below the left knee. Roethlisberger's MRI results revealed no tear of the ACL, but he did suffer a bone bruise, according to ESPN.
"Ben is a competitor and we are confident he will do everything in his power to return at the appropriate time," said head coach Mike Tomlin, via ESPN. Tomlin said that there is no official timetable for Roethlisberger's recovery, but a source has said the team is planning on him being out for six weeks, according to Mortensen.
Backup quarterback Michael Vick stepped in and helped the Steelers earn a 12-6 win. Vick went five for six passing for 38 yards but was sacked twice. The Steelers next face AFC North rival the Baltimore Ravens, who are desperate for a win after losing their first three games.
Vick will need to play big if the Steelers want to stay in the AFC North race, but it seems the former Pro Bowler has the confidence to lead this team. "I've got plenty of confidence; I feel like this is what I was born to do," said Vick, via ESPN. "I'm not a young guy anymore; I'm a seasoned veteran."
The Bengals are undefeated, and with Roethlisberger out they will likely look to create some separation in the division. Steelers' top running back Le'Veon Bell will need to play well if Pittsburgh is to continue to push for the playoffs without Roethlisberger. It's a short week for both the Ravens and the Steelers, and it will be interesting to see how Vick plays in his first start for Pittsburgh.
