Steelers get past ’Skins in 12-10 win

Washington’s first-string offense finally scored in an exhibition game.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — The Washington Redskins’ first-string offense finally scored in a preseason game, albeit without the first-string quarterback.

With Jason Campbell on the sidelines with a bruised knee from a scary hit in the first quarter, Todd Collins completed a 7-yard pass to Brandon Lloyd for the game’s only touchdown in the Redskins’ 12-10 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.

Campbell’s injury wasn’t the worst of the night for the Redskins. Linebacker Marcus Washington, one of the emotional leaders of the defense, dislocated his right elbow in the second quarter.

Preseason drought ends

The Collins-to-Lloyd score ended a drought of six preseason games in which the Redskins’ first unit had failed to score a point, an show of inefficiency that led to last year’s slow start to a 5-11 season and prompted coach Joe Gibbs to put more emphasis on scoring and winning this year’s exhibition games.

Little did Gibbs expect the score to come from the arm of Collins, who is competing for the No. 2 job with Mark Brunell and didn’t play in the regular season last year. Collins finished the touchdown drive after Campbell was hit flush on the left knee by Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel, was assessed with a personal foul for a low hit on a quarterback in the pocket.

Campbell injured

Campbell, who completed a pass for a 29-yard gain to tight end Chris Cooley on the play, grabbed his knee in pain and remained on the field for a couple of minutes before gingerly limping to the sideline. Campbell walked to the locker room but returned to the sidelines later in the first half with his knee heavily wrapped, heavily apparently avoided any serious ligament damage that could ruin his season.

The prognosis for fiery linebacker Washington was more uncertain, as was the cause of his injury. The Steelers ran a running play in the no-huddle offense and were setting up to snap the ball again when officials signaled timeout. Washington came off the field and was holding his elbow as he was taken for X-rays.

Steelers regulars play more

Meanwhile, new Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gave his starters their most extensive work so this preseason, and the results showed there is more work to do.

Ben Roethlisberger, who had quarterbacked only three series in the first two games, played the entire first half and completed eight of 12 passes for 87 yards. He was sacked once and had to scramble four times because of pressure.

Roethlisberger led his only scoring drive at the end of the first half, and it was full of misfires and gifts from the Redskins defense.