[...] though the Steelers are optimistic their starting quarterback will return sooner rather than later after tweaking the knee in the second quarter of a loss in Miami on Sunday, the odds of Roethlisberger being ready for a visit from Tom Brady and the Patriots six days removed from the operating table is remote.
Roethlisberger rested at home Monday after undergoing arthroscopic surgery and Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said the team is confident Roethlisberger won’t be out “long term.”
Roethlisberger’s teammates began rallying around their backup now facing the most daunting task of his uneven career.
The Steelers went 1-1 in those games, though the victory comes with an asterisk because he left early with an ankle injury and Roethlisberger returned to guide a blowout of Cleveland.
Jones has completed 32 of 56 passes for 513 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 appearances and played extensively with the first team during a preseason in which Roethlisberger made just a token appearance.
Washington is shutting down wide receiver Josh Doctson for a few weeks because of a lingering Achilles injury.
