Pittsburgh, PA – Byron Leftwich will start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers' key divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the team announced Wednesday.
Leftwich replaced Ben Roethlisberger in the third quarter of Monday's 16-13 overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs when Roethlisberger sprained the sternoclavicular joint in his right shoulder during a sack and completed 7- of-14 passes for 73 yards.
Roethlisberger also suffered a dislocation of his first rib, which could puncture his aorta if it moves a certain way when hit.
"I don't know if it was the hit or the landing, but I know I felt them both when I landed," Roethlisberger said.
The seventh overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2003 draft, Leftwich has a 24-25 career record as a starter while completing 58.2 percent of his passes for 10,333 yards with 58 touchdowns and 41 interceptions.
It will be his first start since Sept. 27, 2009, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Byron is a great player. He's been doing this for a long time," said Roethlisberger. "I know he's going to go out there and give it his all."
Pittsburgh enters Sunday night's contest trailing the Ravens by one game for the top spot in the AFC North.
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