Roethlisberger practices, questionable for game vs. Broncos

The Steelers face the Denver Broncos in an NFL Divisional playoff football game in Denver on Sunday. A healthy Manning, a strong running game, and game-changing plays by Von Miller, Aqib Talib, and Denver’s defense should see the top-seeded Broncos advance to host the AFC Championship game. Williams is out with a foot injury for the second consecutive week, and Brown because of a concussion in the win at Cincinnati. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger is a wounded warrior, but Denver can’t afford to retreat. He seemed completely convinced that Brown would pass the concussion protocol because he did not think he was really injured and said he would apologize if that was not the case. After missing two consecutive days of practice, the Steelers ruled out receiver Antonio Brown early.

“He’s a great player. We’re not looking at this like, ‘Oh, this is our Super Bowl now that Antonio is out.’ We’re always ready to go”. He torched the Broncos with 16 catches for 189 yards in Pittsburgh’s 34-27 comeback win over the Broncos on December 20. “Collectively we’re all going to have to step up. We have faith and confidence that the next guy will step up and be the best player they can be”. The last time these two teams met, Brown torched the Broncos and used Chris Harris Jr. like a rented mule. Officials won’t want to see anything like last week’s game happen again. He caught nine of 12 passes thrown his way for 86 yards, and he made things happen with the ball in his hands after the catch as well. Todman was the team’s leading rusher with 60 yards on 11 carries (5.9-yard average). Toussaint had 58 yards rushing and 60 yards receiving, including a clutch third-down conversion on the winning drive in the final minute.

“It’s going to take a lot of us to match that production”, Wheaton said.

“If [Brown was cleared to play], obviously, we would be excited about that”, receiver Markus Wheaton said.

Coach Mike Tomlin said he liked what he saw today from Ben Roethlisberger, who returned to practice for the first time this week after sustaining a right shoulder separation and damaging some ligaments in the AFC wild-card playoff victory in Cincinnati.

Linebacker Burfict was sanctioned after being fined four times for safety violations previous year, including a $50,000 penalty for unnecessarily contacting an opponent who was out of the play in their regular season finale against Baltimore.

Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was fined $28,940 for unsportsmanlike conduct.