PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Steelers will start quarterback Dennis Dixon for Sunday's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, the team said on Monday.
Uncertainty has clouded the Steelers at the quarterback position after two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the regular season following accusations of sexual assault.
Backup QB Byron Leftwich was injured Thursday in the team's last pre-season game, leaving Pittsburgh to choose between third-year Dixon and veteran Charlie Batch to begin the year as the starter.
A threat passing or running the ball, Dixon has previously started just one game in his career but performed solidly during the pre-season to beat out Batch
"It's an honor. It's every quarterback's dream to get an opportunity to start in the NFL," Dixon told the team's website (www.steelers.com). "I just want to be even-keeled and put my team in the best situation."
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Alastair Himmer)
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