Another day at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex meant another day of Ben Roethlisberger getting some on-field work as he is coming back from successful outpatient arthroscopic surgery on his left knee just last week.
"It was good to see him back out there," said quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner, who confirmed that Roethlisberger did get some work in. "He was moving a little bit. He got to make some throws. It's always good when he is working with the young quarterbacks too."
Fichtner said "it would be great" if Roethlisberger would be able to return for the Nov. 6 game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, but they are preparing as if he isn't able to return. The one advantage the team has is time as they have a bye this week, giving Roethlisberger extra time to heal.
"We didn't push it much," said Fichtner. "He probably would want to do more. I think the schedule lets us hold until next week because we still have four more days to rest.
"(The bye) is very valuable. It's valuable to our team. We have had some guys banged up, him included. It will be a good time to get some rest and get away from it and come back refreshed on Monday."
Fichtner also said it was valuable for Roethlisberger and Ladarius Green to get some work together on the field, even if it was minimal.
"You have to build that continuity back up and that togetherness," said Fichtner. "That repetition of throws and catches and route depth, timing. Any rep we can get, and we stole a couple today and yesterday, will be good for both of them."
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Red zone woes:** Landry Jones pointed to issues in the red zone against the Patriots, where the Steelers had only a 25% success rate, as the reason for the team's struggles last week. Those struggles included Jones throwing an interception on a third down play from the New England 16-yard line.
"We just didn't make enough plays in the red zone," said Jones. "That was the huge contributing factor to the game. We had the pick, the holding call on the touchdown, missed the throw, and missed a couple of field goals.
"As far as us moving the ball up and down the field, we do just fine. We put ourselves in position to score. We just have to get it in the end zone. You have to learn from your mistakes. I made some really bad decisions down there too. I need to get cleaner as far as being decisive."
