The Steelers ruled out receiver Antonio Brown for Sunday's AFC Divisional Playoff game on Friday morning with a concussion, but the news is better on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury he suffered in the AFC Wild Card game.
"I thought he did a nice job," said Coach Mike Tomlin of Roethlisberger's performance in Friday's practice. "He did everything we asked him to do. I was very specific about what I asked him to do. I wanted to see a variety of throws. I wanted to see enough, no more."
Tomlin ruled Brown out earlier in the day, and after practice running back Le'Veon Bell was also been ruled out.
"We got to the point where we had enough information where we knew he would be unavailable to us so we made the decision," said Tomlin of Brown. "We have been without people before. That is just the nature of this thing. This week will be no different from that perspective. Antonio has been a significant contributor to our efforts over the course of the season. That is life. That is this game. I am excited to watch them adjust, adapt and watch the plays come from other places."
Brown finished the regular season tied as the NFL's leading receiver with 136 receptions and second in yards with 1,834. Last week in the Wild Card game he had seven receptions for 119 yards.
With him out, the Steelers will look to receivers Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Sammie Coates.
"The production that he had, it's going to take a lot of us to match that production," said Wheaton. "Collectively we're all going to have to step up. It's an opportunity for guys like me, guys like Martavis, guys like Hey-Bey, to step up, Sammie Coates to step up and prove something. I think all of us collectively are excited about the opportunity.
"Throughout the year we have all had huge games. It's just a matter of putting it together this game."
