Leftwich injures knee in Steelers’ win over Carolina

Associated Press

pittsburgh

Maybe Carolina Panthers coach John Fox had the right idea: Rest your starters in the final exhibition game.

Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich, expected to replace Ben Roethlisberger during his suspension, injured his left knee in the second quarter as Pittsburgh beat the starter-less Panthers 19-3 on Thursday night.

Carolina’s offense ended the preseason the way it began with no touchdowns as No. 3 quarterback Hunter Cantwell and No. 4 Tony Pike took all the snaps in a game both teams played with the intent of not getting any key player hurt. Only Carolina accomplished it.

Leftwich, tuning up for his anticipated start Sept. 12 against Atlanta, completed an 18-yard pass to rookie Emmanuel Sanders before being knocked off his feet as running back Mewelde Moore and safety Marcus Hudson collided near him with 10:25 remaining in the first half.

Leftwich was examined by team doctors on a stretcher behind the Steelers’ bench, then limped into a nearby tunnel that leads to the locker room. The Steelers (3-1) did not immediately update his condition, but this may be telling — as Leftwich was being helped off, coach Mike Tomlin immediately lifted No. 3 quarterback Dennis Dixon.

Wide receiver Hines Ward, interviewed before the game was over, hinted the Steelers expect to go into the season with Dixon as their starter.

Dixon, who has started only one NFL game, stayed in long enough to finish the drive Leftwich started, throwing a 23-yard pass to rookie Emmanuel Sanders for the game’s only touchdown — and on his lone pass attempt. Jeff Reed kicked field goals of 33, 43, 31 and 32 yards.

While Carolina’s starters never saw the field, most of Pittsburgh’s regulars played into the second quarter, and there were starters on the field when Leftwich was hurt.

Leftwich, whose only playing time during a 34-17 loss Sunday to Denver came with second-line players on the field, came in after Roethlisberger played two series, going 4 of 6 for 39 yards.

Charlie Batch, the longtime backup who looked to be in danger of not making the roster, played the final 21/2 quarters and handed off on nearly every play. Batch attempted only four passes.

Despite opposing Carolina backups, Pittsburgh’s starters went three-and-out and Roethlisberger was knocked off his feet twice during the opening series.

Reed kicked a 33-yard field goal on the second possession after Roethlisberger completed passes of 16 yards to Arnaz Battle and 13 to Heath Miller before spending the rest of the game wearing a ballcap turned backward and a towel around his neck.

On Friday, Roethlisberger travels to New York for a meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to determine if his six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy will be reduced to four games.

Nearly six months ago, there was considerable speculation how Roethlisberger would be received by Steelers fans upset with his behavior.

As it turned out, there were merely shrugs the first time he took the field in Pittsburgh.

With Heinz Field barely half-filled on a 93-degree evening — though the announced crowd was 52,130 — there was no reaction when Roethlisberger led the offense onto the field.