It's hard to tell who is going to be happier hearing the new that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to return to the Steelers lineup for the team's Week 8 game against the Cincinnati Bengals - fans in Pittsburgh or Roethlisberger's fantasy owners. Either way, happiness likely abounds this crisp fall afternoon, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the Steelers are preparing as if Big Ben will suit up against the Bengals.
Roethlisberger, the longtime Steelers franchise signal-caller, took a hit to the knee from St. Louis Rams safety Mark Barron in late Sept. He was eventually determined to have suffered an MCL sprain and a bone bruise. The notoriously tough Roethlisberger has been champing at the bit to return almost since the moment the injury occurred, and with good reason.
In his absence, the Steelers have managed a 2-2 record, but they simply haven't looked right offensively, first with veteran dual-threat passer Mike Vick under center and then with limited backup, Landry Jones.
Through the past four weeks without Roethlisberger, the Steelers have managed scores of 20, 24, 25 and 13. Against the Rams, the game in which Big Ben suffered his injury, the team topped out at 12 points.
This past weekend against the stumbling Kansas City Chiefs, Jones completed just 16 passes on 29 attempts, for one touchdown and two interceptions. Vaunted Steelers wideout Antonio Brown returned to some semblance of his All Pro form, nabbing six balls for 124 yards, but in the three games prior, Brown had made just 5, 3 and 3 receptions for 42, 45 and 24 yards.
With running back Le'Veon Bell back and motoring and Roethlisberger again under center, the Steelers will be a tough out for the undefeated Bengals and fantasy owners can finally drop whatever middling waiver pickup they muddled through the last few weeks with.
