Multiple media outlets are reporting that an MRI showed Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich has damage to the MCL in his left knee that will likely keep him out for at least the regular-season opener.
But there are conflicting reports on the severity of the injury.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Leftwich has a second-degree sprain of the medial collateral ligament and hasn’t completely ruled out being able to play in Week One, while Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Leftwich “apparently tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee,” and that he’ll have to miss all four of the games he would have started during Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension.
Until we hear more from the Steelers, we’re not sure whether to believe Mortensen’s more optimistic report, or the report from Brown that refers to Leftwich’s injury as the “worst possible scenario in a preseason game.”
But even the more optimistic report from Mortensen referred to Leftwich’s chances of playing in Week One as “not likely.”
And so it appears that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will now have to choose between Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon as his Week One starter.