Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who's battling a sprained ankle, is "a true game-time decision" for Monday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN. His report contradicts an earlier story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which said the Steelers decided to start Roethlisberger on Sunday, although that decision "had nothing to do with" the Baltimore Ravens' Sunday-night loss to the San Diego Chargers, which left open the possibility that Pittsburgh could with the AFC North and could thus garner a first-round playoff bye.
Roethlisberger only started practicing again Saturday, and even then that was on a limited basis. His backups are the 37-year-old Charlie Batch and four-year veteran Dennis Dixon. Batch has thrown two passes in 2011, completing neither; Dixon has yet to take the field in the 2011 campaign. The former Oregon Duck has completed 35 of 59 passes at the NFL level for one touchdown and two interceptions.
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