Batch will start at QB for Steelers at Tampa

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The forgotten quarterback is now the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starter.

Charlie Batch, a longtime backup who was relegated to No. 4 status as the Steelers dealt with Ben Roethlisberger’s off-field problems, will make his first start since 2007 at Tampa Bay (2-0) on Sunday.

Coach Mike Tomlin picked Batch over Byron Leftwich, who is recovering from a sprained left knee ligament that occurred Sept. 2. Dennis Dixon started the first two games, but he underwent surgery Wednesday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and is out indefinitely.

The Steelers (2-0) apparently decided they couldn’t wait until the end of the week to determine if Leftwich’s still-healing knee would hold up to the stress of playing. Batch has gotten little work since last season, and Tomlin wanted to give him as much time as possible with the starters during the most important practices of the week Wednesday and Thursday.

He’s certainly had enough rest time while throwing only two passes since 2007.

“It feels good,” Batch said Wednesday. “I never imagined it would turn out this way, but here we go.”

The Steelers were so crowded with quarterbacks after they reacquired Leftwich in April — with the intent of starting him during Roethlisberger’s four-game suspension — that the 35-year-old Batch took only a few snaps with backups during voluntary spring practices and training camp.

Because the Steelers didn’t plan to carry three quarterbacks while Roethlisberger was out, Batch likely would have been cut if Leftwich hadn’t gotten hurt during the final exhibition game.

Now, with Dixon out and Leftwich not quite ready, Batch will make his first start since an essentially meaningless end-of-season game against Baltimore in 2007. Before that, he hadn’t started since the 2006 opener, which Roethlisberger missed because of appendicitis.

Batch, the Lions’ starter from 1998 until midway through the 2001 season, has been a Steelers backup since 2002, although he missed the 2004 and 2008 seasons due to preseason injuries. He threw only two passes in his lone game last season before injuring his wrist.

“He’s been with the starters, he’s been with the second team, he’s been with the third team,” wide receiver Hines Ward said. “He understands all the wide receivers. He probably understands this offense better than anybody. We feel good, we’ve just got to protect Charlie.”