Following Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, Coach Mike Tomlin fed the beast that is Steelers Nation, a nation looking for their leader to return.
When asked if he felt good about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returning to game action this week, Tomlin said, "I do as I sit here today."
That's all the nation needed to hear. Of course, the follow up about how his knee reacts this week followed, but that didn't matter. Steelers Nation knows what it would mean to have Roethlisberger back, and so do his teammates.
"It would be a huge boost for us," said linebacker Arthur Moats. "That is the leader of the team. You know the type of talent he is and what he is capable of doing. He is going to be a huge boost for us not only on offense, but for the team."
The Steelers offense has yet to play as a complete unit this season, all of the weapons on the field at the same time. This week could be the first time that Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Martavis Bryant, Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton and Heath Miller are all out there together since the preseason.
"It will be good," said Miller. "Hopefully everybody will be back and healthy."
Miller gave props to quarterbacks Landry Jones and Mike Vick who started in Roethlisberger's absence, but it's never easy to replace a starting quarterback, especially one as experienced in the Steelers' offense that Roethlisberger is.
The best photos of QB Ben Roethlisberger from the 2015 season.
"He is our starting quarterback for a reason, because he gives us our best chance to win," said Miller. "That is no disrespect to the guys who have been playing at all. We are a better team when he is back there, as is the case with every starter at his position. We will see this week. Hopefully he will be healthy enough to go."
The Steelers will take on the 6-0 Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, and there is no doubt having Roethlisberger back would give them a shot in the arm.
"He is one of the best quarterbacks in the league," said Miller. "Any time you get a good player like that back, it's going to help. We can't overlook the little things and say Ben is back, we are good to go. We have to take care of the little things. That is what is going to carry us through because they are a really good defense."
