Ben Roethlisberger Injury: Steelers Need QB to Play Through Pain vs. Titans

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger underwent testing yesterday on his injured left foot, and his status for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans is up in the air, based on a report from the Associated Press.

One thing is clear—the team desperately needs Big Ben to suit up in Week 5.

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"Roethlisberger injured the foot in the fourth quarter but stayed on the field until the final seconds. He wore a protective boot while gingerly making his way out of the locker room."

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Even though veteran backup Charlie Batch and his young protégé Dennis Dixon were able to lead the Steelers to a 3-1 start without Roethlisberger to start last season, that's when Pittsburgh's rushing attack was clicking on all cylinders and the offensive line actually blocked the opposing team.

That's clearly not the case in 2011, as Rashard Mendenhall has struggled and is now dealing with an injury of his own while the offensive line is among the most porous in the NFL.

It's not to say Big Ben has been helping the cause, either. He's already thrown as many interceptions in five games as he did all of last season and has his lowest completion rate since 2008.

While a portion of that has to do with the poor line play, he has to adjust to that and make quicker decisions.

If Roethlisberger—who is pretty mobile in the pocket for a big man—can't handle the heat behind the line, it's hard to imagine the aging Batch surviving a full game.

A game against the Titans is especially important when you consider possible Wild Card implications down the line. Much to the surprise of most fans, the Titans are 3-1, and the Steelers can't afford to fall any further behind in the race for one of the final two playoff spots.

Even with a foot injury, Roethlisberger gives Pittsburgh the best chance to win. Unless the MRI revealed a more serious ailment than originally anticipated (sprain), Big Ben needs to fight through it like he has so often in the past.

There are no less than eight teams that will be competing for six playoffs spots in the AFC. As cliché as it sounds, every game matters.

Roethlisberger understands that and will do everything in his power to be out there on Sunday.

And it's a good thing, because the Steelers don't have a viable alternative—thanks to their crumbling offensive line.