Charlie Batch out six weeks

If the Steelers weren’t nervous about Ben Roethlisberger’s head injury before, they will be now.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Steelers backup Charlie Batch requires wrist surgery and will miss the next six weeks to recover.  Batch replaced Roethlisberger in overtime of Sunday’s loss, throwing two passes and handing the ball off twice.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger’s head injury Sunday was “concussion oriented” but early signs from the Steelers were encouraging, according to Mike Florio.  Roethlisberger said he felt “OK” after the game and wasn’t sure if he suffered a concussion.

Next in line is Dennis Dixon, who has thrown one career pass.  The Steelers will likely have to look for more depth at quarterback.

31 responses to “Charlie Batch out six weeks

  1. Umm How about we take the same precautions with chubby face magee here that they take with Portis and Westbrook. I am sure they both said they felt “fine” too because they are football players and just want to play. Ben should be sat for at least a week as a precautionary measure or else he’ll end up like Trent Green and Troy Aikman before he is 30

  2. Ya, I saw this more than a half hour ago on ESPN. Man are you guys slow! Anyway I hear that we are calling Terry Bradshaw to see if he will come out of retirement!

  3. I guarantee you that they will come out and say that Roethlisberger didn’t suffer a concussion even if he in actuality did.

  4. I love me some Chuck B, but there is no need to be nervous when the Steelers have Dennis Dixon. Batch’s experience is the only thing that makes him the #2 quarterback, Dixon brings a completely different dimension to the offense. Dixon runs like a gazelle, has a decent arm, and is pretty accurate.
    If the Steelers had to go w/out Ben in a game I would feel comfortable w/ Dixon and would be excited to see how he performs.
    Batch is aging and has been hurt the past 2 years. It might be time for him to hang up the cleats. He is an awesome human being and philanthropist around the Pittsburgh area. I know he loves playing for his hometown team in the Steelers…maybe they can find a coaching position so he can stay involved.

  5. Where are all the people that said the Eagles were irresponsible with Westbrook? Is there really any question as to whether the Steelers should play Ben, or is this just an Eagles thing? His head injury is “cuncussion oriented.” Is that like “his leg injury is broken bone oriented?”
    I don’t care if he plays or not, it should be his call. What i’m worried about is the double standard that seems to be popping up now. Certain media members seem to be using concussions as something they can hook their wagon to in the hopes of becoming relavent.

  6. “Concussion oriented” is coach-speak for “a concussion”.
    If it wasn’t a concussion, they wouldn’t even use the word, as they are so scared of people realizing how big of a problem concussions in the NFL are.

  7. Funny, I didn’t even know he was in the league. That’s prolly because my team has the greatest Quarterback that ever lived.
    4

  8. His brain just hurt a little bit. It wasn’t a concussion we need him next week he just had his brain rattled.

  9. Garcia makes sense. But this would be easier if the Steelers were still a run first team. With Dixon, his bringing a different deminsion is likely a disadvantage. You dont want to change an offense in one week that you have been building all season…. heck for years.

  10. # maxsteel says: November 23, 2009 11:12 AM
    “Ya, I saw this more than a half hour ago on ESPN. Man are you guys slow! Anyway I hear that we are calling Terry Bradshaw to see if he will come out of retirement!”
    Slow? Look who’s talking. Florio reported Bradshaw died years ago.

  11. Luckiest team in the league. Don’t worry Steeler fans, between the fact that God seems to love you for some odd reason- and the fact that the Rooneys appear to own the referees association, I’m sure your long snapper could come in and throw for 300 yards and 4 TDs (and also run for another two). It’s ridiculous. ha ha…

  12. Dixon brings a completely different dimension to the offense. Dixon runs like a gazelle, has a decent arm, and is pretty accurate.
    Haha! That is some pretty funny stuff. You are kidding right? Like a gazelle! Oh! You kill me!

  13. At this point I don’t see any information that has come out that would cause any of us/you experts to have an opinion about whether Ben can play this weekend or not.
    But with Westbrook, he was knocked out cold and was on the turf for quite a while. That is a major difference in this situation IMO.
    If Ben is an any long-term jeopardy by playing this weekend, then I am sure the decision will be made not to play him. They did not play Clark in Denver. One game is not important enough to risk a long-term problem with Ben.
    Here is hoping for the best for Ben, who is a damn tough competitor.

  14. Can’t wait till Sunday Night in Baltimore. Again The way the guy fakes every injury who knows what’s wrong with him. One can only hope the Rapist can pull himself together so he can “officially” get a concussion courtesy of Ray!
    As bad as yesterday’s loss was for the blackbirds should be licking their beaks for Sunday!

  15. Even Lord Florio was calling for BWest to retire, but when it comes to a “favorite” player such as Roethlesburger, everything becomes “concussion oriented” and quotes from Ben saying he felt “OK”.
    If two?? concussions are enough to call for the retirement for BWest, then yesterday should be considered the same!
    Anything other than that is obvious bias of Lord Florio regarding the Eagles and he cares nothing about the player himself!

  16. Geez….Batch gets in the game for 4 plays, and he somehow breaks his wrist? He must be a brittle old man. Dixon should be the # 2 guy anyways. Ben will be fine….he always is. This is why he is one of the premiere QBs in the game. He’ll play, the Steelers will win, and things will be back to normal.

  17. Are we going to get some definitive medical diagnosis of Ben’s condition? Or is “concussion-oriented” the best we can hope for? Much as it pains me to agree with the smack-talkers, “concussion-oriented” does sound like double-speak for “concussion”–and I don’t want the Steelers playing fast-and-loose with Roethlisberger’s long-term health. Too bad we had to let Leftwich go. Our loss at backup certainly wasn’t Tampa’s gain at starter.

  18. MNFANINAZ said: “Funny, I didn’t even know he was in the league. That’s prolly because my team has the greatest Quarterback that ever lived.”
    Would that be the QB would coughed up a fumble that was returned for a TD and followed it up with a pick six the last time he played Batch’s team?
    You probably don’t remember this, because you probably didn’t follow “the greatest QB that ever lived” career much before he came to MN, but before this year, the last time Favre faced the Steelers was when he was with Green Bay. Guess who was the Steelers QB that night? That’s right — Charlie Batch. Do you remember the outcome? The Steelers won that one too. The greatest QB who ever lived helped us out on that evening too, with a fumble that was returned for a TD.

  19. How can Charlie Batch NOT be liked. He seems like a total team player, knows his role (and appreciates it) and has been rewarded with 2 SB rings. Classy grizzled vet. Get better soon.

  20. jamaltimore: Yes, I’m certain your double-murdering number 52 is lickin’ his chops for blood. No worry. That old fool is all theatrics, no force! (You saw that kid jump straight up after supposedly being laid into by big ray! Huh. The was unfazed…)

  21. I agree, Ben looked lost on the sideline.
    Dennis Dixon is a a great project QB.
    The Steelers believe he isnt ready to be #2 and wont be for another season or two.
    Rumor here in Pittsburgh is that QB Lemo Clemon (Ex-Bolt and Fin) has already been contacted by the Steelers and might be in for a workout later today or tommorrow.
    QB Cleo Lemon is a ex-starter and could provide insurance is Ben gets injuryed again.
    Ben WILL play against BAL. Question will be, How long can he last taking hits like that?

  22. jamaltimore says:
    November 23, 2009 11:59 AM
    Can’t wait till Sunday Night in Baltimore. Again The way the guy fakes every injury who knows what’s wrong with him. One can only hope the Rapist can pull himself together so he can “officially” get a concussion courtesy of Ray!
    ****
    Yep, Lewis looked great trying to make that tackle on Addai when he ran for that TD. Right through Lewis’ area.

  23. I believe Quinn Gray is available and still warmed up from his stint with the 0-infinity NY Sentinels…

  24. “MNFANINAZ says:
    November 23, 2009 11:31 AM
    Funny, I didn’t even know he was in the league. That’s prolly because my team has the greatest Quarterback that ever lived.
    4”
    Correction, your QB is the greatest QB that ever lived in his own mind.

  25. And in other news, the NFL has a new rule change that requires a neurosurgeon or neurologist to sign off on a concussed player before returning to play a new game.

  26. The Steelers should call up the Buccaneers about Byron Leftwich who performed well last season and is languishing on the bench because of the debacle in Tampa Bay.

  27. Didier that’d be great but the trade deadline is over by 5 weeks! How about Tommy Maddox? HEEHEE
    And Jamaltimore- Admit it Ray is slowing down. Ive saw many a RB run by him this year. Its just too bad that his mouth isn’t slowing down. He will be the biggest disgrace in the Hall of Fame! Remember Atlanta-

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