Steelers Lose Leftwich Possibly For Season

Added on Aug 29, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

For the second straight preseason Steelers backup quarterback Byron Leftwich suffered an injury that could end his year prematurely. The broken left arm that forced him from Saturday’s win over Atlanta will likely sideline him for the season, although nothing has been confirmed by the team.

Head coach Mike Tomlin wouldn’t commit to declaring Leftwich done for 2011, but didn’t sound optimistic either.

I don’t have the time he is going to be out, but I am sure it will be an extended period of time,” Tomlin said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The former Jaguars first-round pick has spent two campaigns with Pittsburgh, first in 2008 then again a season ago. He’s attempted only 43 passes and thrown a pair of touchdowns, both coming in ’08. In nine years as a professional, he has tossed for 58 touchdowns and 41 interceptions, but has never started more than 13 games in a season.

As costly as the injury may be to Leftwich, the Steelers have a pair of capable backups in Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon. The 36-year-old Batch has been a Steelers reserve since 2002, He’s started six games during that time, including two in 2010 while Ben Roethlisberger was serving a four-game suspension. Dixon started the other two games, but was sidelined with a torn meniscus in his knee.

Neither Batch or Dixon was highly effective, but the Steelers went 3-1 thanks in large part to their signature stifling defense and punishing rush attack. Leftwich was later resigned by the team after Dixon was placed on injured reserve. He made a brief appearance in the Week 17 blowout victory against Cleveland, completing 5-7 passes for 42 yards.

Leftwich is the most skilled of the trio, but barring a longterm ailment to Roethlisberger, the black and gold should be fine with Batch and Dixon on the bench. Despite the beating he seems to take every year, Big Ben has proven to be quite durable in his career, missing only three starts due to injury since 2006.

Pittsburgh opens the 2011 season September 11th on the road in Baltimore.

Source: NFL.com