Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is coming off a terrific 2014 season. What made Big Ben’s season so special wasn’t just the gaudy numbers he put up, but the fact that Roethlisberger was healthy for the entire season, playing in every one of the Steelers 16 regular season games, plus their playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
That makes two consecutive seasons that Roethlisberger hasn’t missed a snap due to injury.
That alone has been a rarity in Roethlisberger’s career, which led the Steelers to sign backup quarterback Bruce Gradowski for insurance.
But Gradkowski is out with a shoulder injury that seems serious, leaving the Steelers with only Landry Jones, Tajh Boyd and wide receivers Tyler Murphy and Devin Gardner, who are both also taking snaps at quarterback.
All have looked pretty bad at camp at different times so far.
If Roethlisberger were to go down with any type of injury, there’s no way Mike Tomlin or Todd Haley will be comfortable having to play any of those guys in a meaningful game situation.
That brings me back to Gradkowski, who says he is at least two weeks away from being able to throw a football. Also shoulder injuries can linger so there is a cause for concern there.
The timing gives the Steelers options as they can wait and see how Gradkowski progresses.
But should he suffer any setbacks, should the Steelers look to add a backup quarterback?
That answer is an easy yes.
Jones or Boyd will not be seeing the field this season and judging by their performances during the early going of camp, should not be on an NFL roster anywhere.
This early in camp there isn’t much out there, but one name that the Post Gazette’s Ed Bouchette feels the Steelers should sign is Michael Vick, who is currently waiting on a team to call.
I can make cases both pro and con for Vick, but the biggest positives is that he can field a snap from center, something the other Steelers quarterbacks are struggling with, and he has won in the NFL before.
But whether it be Vick or someone else, one thing is clear and that is the Steelers need to address the backup quarterback spot.
Sooner rather than later.
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