Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Byron Leftwich will start at quarterback for
the Pittsburgh Steelers' key divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens
on Sunday, the team announced Wednesday.
Leftwich replaced Ben Roethlisberger in the third quarter of Monday's 16-13
overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs when Roethlisberger sprained the
sternoclavicular joint in his right shoulder during a sack and completed 7-
of-14 passes for 73 yards.
Roethlisberger also suffered a dislocation of his first rib, which could
puncture his aorta if it moves a certain way when hit.
"I don't know if it was the hit or the landing, but I know I felt them both
when I landed," Roethlisberger said.
The seventh overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2003 draft,
Leftwich has a 24-25 career record as a starter while completing 58.2 percent
of his passes for 10,333 yards with 58 touchdowns and 41 interceptions.
It will be his first start since Sept. 27, 2009, with the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers.
"Byron is a great player. He's been doing this for a long time," said
Roethlisberger. "I know he's going to go out there and give it his all."
Pittsburgh enters Sunday night's contest trailing the Ravens by one game for
the top spot in the AFC North.
The Sports Network