Roethlisberger limited, Antonio Brown still out

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown were limited participants in practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, just three days before the team will face the Broncos in Denver. Harrison had the day off from practice to rest.

The All-Pro will be kept out of Sunday’s game after suffering a concussion during last weekend’s controversial finish against the Bengals. Jones had a strip sack that led to a field goal while Dupree was a steady presence against the run. The Steelers won a hard fought and ugly game on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals, where two of their most important players may not even play.

Yet his immediate future became uncertain when Burfict lowered his right shoulder into Brown’s head while the receiver attempted to make a leaping grab on Pittsburgh’s final drive.

Only one player, center Matt Paradis, played every single snap on offense, and nobody on the league’s stingiest defense even came close. You know everybody is playing for the same check. Roethlisberger said if that’s the case Sunday, then he won’t play.

“They’re very good with what they do”, he said of the Broncos defense.

Maybe, but there’s little chance of Roethlisberger being 100 percent healthy in time for kickoff.

With Antonio Brown’s status for the divisional playoff game against the Broncos uncertain, the Pittsburgh Steelers might have to look to Martavis Bryant.

Roethlisberger did not throw at all Wednesday, according to Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly.

“We’ve kind of been through this before, and that’s the benefits of being at this point in the journey”, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, noting the loss of running back Le’Veon Bell to a torn ACL and the five starts Roethlisberger missed. The Broncos hope to continue that success with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at home this Sunday afternoon in the Divisional round.

Brock Osweiler was injured against San Diego two weeks ago before Manning’s epic cameo secured the AFC’s top seed and earned him his starting job back. So I think that tells you, A – how bad the foot was, and how long it has bothered him; and then B – that their intention is to play the offense how they wanted to all season, which is under center, the bigger variety … If Roethlisberger can rifle a throw 20-25 yards down the field with some velocity it might make Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips think twice about crowding the box and not respecting the Steelers’ deep receiving threats.

Winning a playoff game on the road without your top receiver and with an injured quarterback might seem like a steep hill to climb, but the Steelers have plenty of milestones to look back on this season when it comes to overcoming adversity.

Roethlisberger has the same number of playoff wins in only 16 postseason starts and one more Super Bowl ring (2-1) than Manning.

“We’re a team, so we’re going to rally behind whoever is in there”, Marshall said.

“We’ll increase his activity as the week goes on”, Tomlin said at his weekly televised news conference.