National Football League

Tomlin expects fans to welcome back Roethlisberger

Published Oct. 14, 2010 2:16 p.m. ET

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Rust and fan reaction are two things Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is not fretting about when it comes to his starting quarterback.

Ben Roethlisberger makes his much-anticipated season debut Sunday against the Browns at Heinz Field. It will be the seventh-year veteran's first regular-season game since last January ? and his initial one since boorish off-the-field behavior jeopardized his Steelers career and led to a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Roethlisberger was roundly cheered by Steelers fans during training camp and the preseason, and Tomlin said he expects the franchise quarterback to get a "warm reception" Sunday.

"I really think that's the nature of Steeler Nation," Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "I know we're excited about having him back. I know he's excited about getting back with his teammates and performing for our fans in Heinz Field."

Tomlin said he doesn't anticipate Roethlisberger having trouble finding his groove in his first game back despite all of the practice time that he missed.

Roethlisberger was not allowed to work out with the Steelers during his suspension. He trained with a personal quarterbacks coach, George Whitfield Jr., as many as four days a week in September.

Whitfield has said the two talked about Roethlisberger playing within himself and the Steelers' offense when he is back under center.

"I think he'll warm up to the competition and move on and be him," Tomlin said of Roethlisberger. "Competing is what he does. Playing football is what he does. I'm sure he'll get back on that bike and ride it pretty quickly."

Roethlisberger resumed working out with the Steelers on Oct. 5, and the team's bye gave him four extra practices with his teammates in advance of the game against the Browns.

"He's had a good week of practice, but it's just that. Good practice puts you in position to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves in stadiums on Sundays," Tomlin said. "He's no different from anybody else from that standpoint. I'm sure there will be some anxiety, some excitement, some nervousness that comes with playing after an extended period of time off. I'm sure he'll kind of quickly get through that as he warms up and gets the competitive juices flowing."

Roethlisberger is expected to give a lift to a passing game that ranks last in the NFL as well as provide an emotional jolt to the teammates who won three of four games in his absence.

"When he has an opportunity to compete, you feel him in the room or in the stadium," Tomlin said. "That's one of the interesting attributes about him as a player and a person. When faced with adversity, when given an opportunity to compete, man he does, and I think guys feed off of that."

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