Roethlisberger not likely to be at practices again this week

It appears that the Steelers once again this week will be without QB Ben Ben Roethlisberger, as the Tribune-Review reports that he is not expected to attend practice Tuesday. The Steelers remain in waiting as to when the QB will be able to return to the team.

The paper reports that it appears from all signs that Roethlisberger will not be back to offseason practices until next week at the earliest. Part of the reason he may not be able to be back this week is that commish Roger Goodell is in Dallas, and has other things like the OT rule and a possible Super Bowl in New Jersey on his mind.

There has been talk that Goodell would hold out Roethlisberger for at least the first two weeks of the Steelers’ offseason practices because it would make the commissioner look weak in the eyes of the rest of the league, giving in to a player that has had two different women make claims against him over the past two offseasons.

Last week recently reacquired QB Byron Leftwich was under center taking most of the first team snaps. Mike Tomlin has stated more than once though that both Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch will also run the first-team offense before the end of the voluntary practices.