Dixon to start for Pittsburgh

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Dennis Dixon didn’t throw a touchdown pass, stretch the defense with his running or do anything to suggest he won’t be back on the bench when Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension is over.

What mattered most to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was that Dixon didn’t lose.

Dixon will be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback Sunday at Tennessee, even though the injured Byron Leftwich may return to practice as early as today. Until he injured a left knee ligament during the final exhibition game Sept. 2, Leftwich was expected to start throughout Roethlisberger’s four-game suspension.

Tomlin, who is choosing his starter on a week-to-week basis while Roethlisberger is out, said Dixon did enough things well during a season-opening 15-9 overtime victory over Atlanta to stay in the lineup.

Dixon completed 18 of 26 passes for 236 yards and an interception in his second NFL start, shaking off a series of underthrown passes early in the game to become more accurate in the second half. Even if, Tomlin said Tuesday, “I’d like the throws to be more on target.”

“There were some situations early in the game where he was delivering the ball to the appropriate target, but it was falling short,” Tomlin said. “I thought as the game wore on, he was creating a little bit. I thought him stepping up in the pocket and hitting Hines [Ward] on a third-and-9-plus was the signature play of the game. Of course, we’re going with him because we feel he’s going to continue to evolve.”

Dixon probably won’t have left tackle Max Starks to protect his blind side against the Titans (1-0), who beat Oakland 38-13 behind Chris Johnson’s 142 yards rushing.

Starks (sprained left ankle) probably can’t practice until the end of the week at the earliest, which means former Bills lineman Jonathan Scott might start. Right tackle Flozell Adams won’t move to left tackle, although that’s his natural position.

Pittsburgh also may be without nose tackle Casey Hampton (hamstring), an excellent run defender and probably the one defensive player the Steelers would least like to lose before going against Johnson, the NFL’s top rusher last season with 2,006 yards. Hampton would be replaced by Chris Hoke.

Leftwich talked optimistically last week of playing this week, but Tomlin doesn’t want to disrupt an offense that already is adjusting to being without Roethlisberger. Leftwich is less mobile than Dixon, and his injury makes him even slower.

The Steelers have lost seven of eight at Tennessee, including a 31-14 decision during their Super Bowl-winning season in 2008, Tomlin’s second as coach.

“It’s a tough place to play, ” Tomlin said.