By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

            There was a welcome sight at the Steelers practice facility on Wednesday as Ben Roethlisberger practiced with the first team. It’s the first time he has done so since having knee surgery prior to the Steelers game against the Green Bay Packers.

 

            “It feels pretty good,” said Roethlisberger, who worked out with coaches and trainers on Monday and Tuesday before taking part in the team’s first practice of the week on Wednesday. “We’re working on it. We’re working real hard with it. It feels pretty good right now.”

 

             Roethlisberger is listed as probable for Monday night’s game in Indianapolis, but he is preparing to take back the reins at the quarterback position.

 

“I’m still taking it one day at a time,” said Roethlisberger. “I’m going to be as close as I can be. We’re still not 100 percent sure I’m playing in this game. I’m going out and preparing myself like I am starting the game.

 

“It’s been a long time. It feels like an eternity since I’ve been out there. I can’t wait to get out there, to get on the field, just so the guys know that I’m there for them and I’m back.”  

 

Having missed three games Roethlisberger knows it will take a few plays to work the kinks out, but he is hoping it won’t be much more than that.

 

“I don’t think you can ever simulate the game speed, especially against a team like Indianapolis on their field turf,” he said.  “So I think it’ll be a challenge, I definitely think they’ll be some rust. The question is how quick I can knock it off.”

 

There also is a chance of some hesitation as the knee gets it’s first test in full contact. But Roethlisberger isn’t worried about that and feels confident that the knee will respond.

 

“I feel right now that I’m ready to go,” said Roethlisberger. “It still has a little bit of pain in it but it doesn’t have the pain I had in it before. I feel already better than I ever did and hopefully I can move around and, who knows, maybe I’ll be faster.

 

           “It’ll be exciting to get out there and run around again. Hopefully my knee feels better than it ever did and I’ll be able to move around better than I ever had.”