Gerry Dulac reports that the Steelers will give quarterback Dennis Dixon playing time in Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, in the hopes of finding a team willing to deal for him.

It is unlikely veteran Charlie Batch will play much in the game, if at all, because the Steelers want to use Dennis Dixon to relieve Leftwich.

Does that mean Batch, who is 36, is on his way out?

No, on the contrary. It actually could mean that the Steelers are trying to showcase Dixon with the hope of making a trade for him before the final cutdown on Sept. 3.

It’s no secret that Dixon would like to be traded to a team that would give him a cleaner shot at playing time. I doubt anyone would make him a starter, but it’s at least possible he could get a job as a backup somewhere. The Steelers probably wouldn’t get anything of value for him – probably just a draft pick, and not a particularly great one. Dixon will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

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