The Pittsburgh Steelers will be putting the ball in the hands of their third-string quarterback when they face the rival Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
Fox Sports is reporting that Steelers starting QB Ben Roethlisberger will miss Week 12's tilt due to a concussion suffered in last week's upset loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh is also without backup quarterback Charlie Batch (wrist), leaving the team to go with two-year pro Dennis Dixon.
"It's part of the nature of the beast of playing this game. It's a violent, physical contact sport and there's a chance you're going to get hit," Roethlisberger told reporters earlier this week. "You guys don't talk about the bruises we have all over our body. If I showed you a bruise on my shoulder and a bruise on my shin, it wouldn't get talked about as much. It's a violent sport we play."
Dixon has appeared in just one NFL game, throwing one pass for three yards. Pittsburgh has the fifth-best passing attack in the league with Roethlisberger under center, averaging more than 268 yards per game. Roethlisberger practiced all week and was expected to take the field as of Friday night.
Some sportsbooks opened Sunday's game with the Ravens favored by two points while the total opened at 42 points. Most shops have yet to post odds.