The Pittsburgh Steelers expect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to return to the starting lineup this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals. While the Steelers will be happy to get Roethlisberger back, the Bengals will be excited for linebacker Vontaze Burfict's return after being added to the 53-man roster after practice Saturday, according to Bengals columnist Jim Owczarski.
Roethlisberger almost played last week against the Chiefs, but the team decided to give him another week of rest. "It was close but in the end we decided to go with the guy that had practice reps," said head coach Mike Tomlin, via Fox Sports. "That was the appropriate thing to do. No second-guessing. We'll move forward with Ben as we prepare this week."
The Steelers quarterback will look to shake the rust off this week, but he has a tough challenge in the form of one of the leagues best defenses in the Bengals. "He's doing a good job," said offensive coordinator Todd Haley about Roethlisberger in practice, via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It's great to have him back. He's obviously been champing at the bit to get back. As coach said, he's full go and that's the way we're expecting it."
The Steelers are clearly excited to have their top quarterback on the field Sunday, but the Bengals are undefeated and looking for their first win against Pittsburgh this season. Cincinnati has the 12th best defense in the league in terms of points given up per game, and with the return of star linebacker Burfict, their defense only looks to get better.
Burfict likely won't be able to play the entire game, but he will likely have an impact, as he is top-tier NFL linebacker. The 25-year-old linebacker had 114 tackles and three sacks in 2013, and he will look to make his presence felt on Sunday.
This is a crucial game for both teams, as Cincinnati is fighting to keep control of the AFC North. While Pittsburgh can't catch Cincinnati with a win on Sunday, they can take a step closer and be the first team to give the Bengals a loss this season. It will be interesting to keep an eye on Roethlisberger and Burfict on Sunday, as the two look to be crucial players in this AFC North matchup.
