The status of the Steelers’ top two quarterbacks for Sunday’s game in Kansas City remains uncertain, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told reporters Tuesday he is “assuming” that Landry Jones will be the team’s starter.
Jones replaced Michael Vick last Sunday when Vick left with what’s been revealed to be a partially torn hamstring. Roethlisberger is recovering from a knee injury that’s kept him out of the last three games. He practiced last week on a limited basis.
Both Roethlisberger and Vick plan to participate in practice to some extent Wednesday, “but Landry is the healthiest one,” Tomlin said.
What an endorsement.
Vick was signed in August because the team hadn’t seen enough from Jones in its early preseason games, but Tomlin said he “wasn’t shocked” by how well Jones played last week when pressed into action.
Jones completed 8-of-12 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. He’d previously never thrown a pass in a regular-season game, which is why Roethlisberger said that although he’s anxious to test his knee and return as soon as possible, he knows Jones needs reps with the No. 1 offense if he’s going to be the starter.
Tomlin said linebackers Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier should be healthy enough to play Sunday.
