Pittsburgh Steelers Rumors: Ben Roethlisberger to Practice this week

Ben Roethlisberger hopes that he will be ready for this week's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"We're going to tape it and brace it and I'm going to see what I can do," Roethlisberger said after Sunday's 25-13 win against the Arizona Cardinals reported by Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "My plan is to go out Wednesday and practice. We'll see what happens. I know I've got to be smart about it. I've got to be able to defend myself. We're just going to take it day by day."

This weekend will be the fourth week that Big Ben has been sidelined due to a sprained MCL and a bone bruise on his left knee. Roethlisberger was injured in the Sept. 27 game against the St. Louis Rams. His projected return date was estimated to be 4-6 weeks.

Even though Roethlisberger remains optimistic about his return, Mark Kaboly a Steelers beat writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweeted that the quarterback will most likely return in week 8.

Kaboly tweeted, "I'll say this: I would say Roethlisberger is a long shot to play this week. More like Nov. 1 against Bengals, IMO."

If Roethlisberger is not ready this week and back up quarterback Michael Vick is forced to rest his hamstring, which he said to NFL Media's Aditi Kinkhabwala was strained, the Steelers would have to go to their third option and start Landry Jones.

Jones, who entered the game against the Cardinals, proved that he has the potential to be a reliable and effective back up quarterback. The 26-year-old completed eight of 12 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

Sunday's game was Jones very first NFL game since being drafted by the Steelers in 2013.