National Football League

Concussion expected to sideline Roethlisberger

Published Nov. 29, 2009 1:13 a.m. ET

foxsports

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will miss Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens because of a concussion, forcing inexperienced Dennis Dixon to start one of the Super Bowl champion's biggest games this season. Dixon has spent most of the season as the No. 3 quarterback running the Steelers' scout team during practice. He has thrown only one NFL pass in two seasons, but must play because both Roethlisberger and backup Charlie Batch were hurt during a 27-24 overtime loss to Kansas City last week. Roethlisberger practiced all week despite sustaining his fourth concussion since 2006. On Thursday, during his only interview of the week, he said he had been cleared to play, joking he passed "thousands of tests." Roethlisberger, however, experienced headaches resulting from the concussion - he struck the knee of Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson - and he began debating the wisdom of playing after consulting with the team's medical staff. The Steelers decided Saturday that Roethlisberger will play only in an emergency. He will be the No. 3 quarterback, with Tyler Palko - who was signed only on Thursday and doesn't know the offense - as Dixon's backup.