Maddox's torn ligament will take 6 weeks to heal

Ben Roethlisberger will likely start Sunday's game in Miami.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox will be out at least six weeks with a torn ligament and tendon damage in his right elbow, an injury that at least temporarily makes rookie Ben Roethlisberger the starter.
Maddox was injured while being hit in the third quarter of a 30-13 loss Sunday in Baltimore.
Coach Bill Cowher initially thought Maddox might need season-ending reconstructive elbow surgery, but team doctors said Monday that an operation isn't necessary.
Maddox plans to seek a second opinion from elbow injury specialist James Andrews, an orthopedic surgeon in Birmingham, Ala. Unless Andrews' diagnosis differs from those of the team doctors, Maddox will not throw or practice for six weeks but could resume playing sometime in November.
"It's the best-case scenario," Cowher said.
Veteran search
With Maddox expected to miss at least five games and possibly more, the Steelers will bring in a veteran quarterback to back up Roethlisberger and Brian St. Pierre, a former Boston College quarterback who has never played in an NFL game.
The injury is yet another setback for the 33-year-old Maddox, a Broncos' first-round draft pick in 1992 who hadn't started an NFL game in 10 years until beating out former Steelers starter Kordell Stewart early in the 2002 season.
Maddox went on to be chosen as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year that season, despite missing two games after an injury in Tennessee left him temporarily paralyzed on the field. Until now, those were the only games he missed to injury with Pittsburgh.
"Obviously, he is very disappointed," Cowher said. "He has been dealt a lot of adversity in his career and life and he is a pretty resilient guy."
During his layoff, Maddox will miss games against the Dolphins, Bengals, Browns, Cowboys and Patriots. Once he resumes throwing, the Steelers will re-evaluate his status for the rest of the season.
Plan scrapped
Maddox was expected to start all season so the Steelers could slowly bring along Roethlisberger, the No. 11 overall draft pick and only quarterback they have drafted in the first round since 1981.
Maddox's injury changes all that. Roethlisberger will start Sunday at Miami, if only because any veteran quarterback brought in this week likely won't have enough time to learn the Steelers' system.
"I've got to be the leader now," Roethlisberger said.
Asked if the Steelers (1-1) can be a playoff contender with a rookie quarterback, Cowher said, "We will certainly find out."
Maddox's injury is the second by a Steelers quarterback this year. Charlie Batch, a former Lions starter who was Maddox's backup last season, injured a knee during training camp and will miss the season.
Before being hurt, Maddox was 4-of-13 for 67 yards in slightly more than a half. He was injured when defensive back Gary Baxter chopped the ball out of his hands early in the third quarter, causing a fumble that Terrell Suggs returned 24 yards to the Steelers' 1-yard line.
Roethlisberger took over with the Steelers trailing 20-0 and completed 12-of-20 passes for 176 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, including one for a touchdown. He was nearly intercepted on several other throws, one that went through safety Ed Reed's hands directly into those of Hines Ward for a 56-yard catch that led to Roethlisberger's 3-yard TD pass to Antwaan Randle El.