Ben Roethlisberger has a broken right thumb, but that in no way means it’s thumbs up for Kansas City.
The Pittsburgh quarterback seems to play even better when he’s a little banged up.
“I’ll be out there; I guarantee that,” Roethlisberger told reporters this week during a break from preparations for tonight’s road game against the Chiefs.
Roethlisberger didn’t take snaps from under center for the first part of the week, instead working out of the shotgun with a splint under the glove on his throwing hand to protect his thumb. He sustained the injury a few weeks ago against Cincinnati and had the benefit of a bye last week to recuperate.
He said he plans to play through the pain rather than take an injection to numb the area around his thumb.
Pain of that type in the past has seemed to bring out the best in him.
“When you’re dinged up a little bit, you have to play a little better, concentrate a little bit more,” he said.
The Steelers need him to come through, seeing as they’re half a game behind Baltimore in the AFC North, and Cincinnati is in contention also.
Roethlisberger played with a broken thumb for a few games in 2005, when the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl.
“It’s almost the same exact thing,” he said. “I guess there’s peace of mind with me that I’ve gone through this before. It doesn’t feel better physically, but at least mentally, it feels better in that sense.”
EAGLES WITHOUT VICK, MACLIN TODAY
As expected, Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin have been ruled out for today’s game against the New England Patriots, according to Philadelphia Eagles sources.
Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who hyperextended his left knee at Thursday’s practice, will be a game-time decision.
Vince Young will start in place of Vick at quarterback for the second straight game, as will Riley Cooper for Maclin (shoulder/hamstring) at wide receiver.
Vick, who broke two ribs on Nov. 13 against the Cardinals, did not practice at all last week. He did increase his throwing on the side with each day and could be healthy enough to return for Thursday night’s game in Seattle against the Seahawks.
If Asomugha can’t go, Brandon Hughes will be his primary replacement at right corner.
Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (high-ankle sprain) also is not expected to play.
PETERSON OUT, GERHART IN
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been ruled out of today’s game against the Atlanta Falcons because of a sprained left ankle.
The Vikings announced that Peterson had been downgraded on the injury report from doubtful to out and would not travel with the team to Atlanta. This will be only the fourth game in Peterson’s five-year NFL career that he will miss.
Toby Gerhart will be the featured runner in Peterson’s place.
EXTRA POINTS
Former Colts receiver Marvin Harrison, whose 112 career touchdown passes from Peyton Manning is the most of any quarterback-receiver combination in NFL history, will be inducted into the Colts’ Ring of Honor today at halftime. … The Giants put wide receiver Michael Clayton on injured reserve with a torn meniscus in his knee that will be operated on Monday. … Carolina tight end Jeremy Shockey, who missed last week’s game because of injured ribs, has practiced this week and is expected to play today at Indianapolis.
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