With just three days to prepare for Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn’t letting himself think about the long-term implications of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s left knee injury.

Whether Big Ben is back in four weeks, six weeks — or if he needs less or even more time to recover from the sprained medial collateral ligament and bone bruise — doesn’t change the fact that Michael Vick will be running the huddle in the near term.

It will be Vick’s first start since last November, when he subbed for Geno Smith with the New York Jets. Vick, 35, signed with the Steelers in late August.

“We’re excited about rallying around Mike and working within his comfort zone,” Tomlin said Monday.

The coach believes Vick has a strong grasp of coordinator Todd Haley’s offense, but that doesn’t mean the Steelers will look the same with Vick as they did with Roethlisberger. Vick is left-handed and far-more apt to leave the pocket than Roethlisberger, who typically extends plays behind the line of scrimmage.

“We’re bringing the game to him, and allowing him to play and finding what his personality is and our personality is with him,” Tomlin said.

At least part of that personality shouldn’t change, namely Pittsburgh’s reliance on star running back Le’Veon Bell, who made his return on Sunday after serving a two-game suspension, and wide receiver Antonio Brown, who should be somewhat of a safety net for Vick as he adjusts to his new role.

“That doesn’t mean we’re going to execute the offense in the manner we’d ask Ben to,” Tomlin said. “We’re not going to assume things. We’re going to work in his comfort zone and bring the game to him.”

SOURCE: Lindsay H. Jones
USA TODAY Sports