Tomlin planning on Jones being Steelers' QB against Kansas City

Ben Roethlisberger is approaching the week with the mindset that he has a legitimate chance to play against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's way of thinking can't be any more opposite.

Tomlin said Tuesday during his weekly news conference that he's approaching the week of practice leading up to Sunday's game at Kansas City with the mindset of getting Landry Jones ready to face the Chiefs and not whether Roethlisberger will be able to play.

“We're going to focus on getting Landry ready and that's what we do know,” Tomlin said. “Some of the other things are speculative. We can't lose a whole lot of preparation time with speculation. When things reveal themselves to us, in terms of the overall availability of Ben and/or Mike Vick, then we'll make the necessary adjustments to our plan accordingly.”

Vick injured his hamstring early during the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, which led to Jones coming in and leading the Steelers to a surprising 25-13 win.

Roethlisberger is three weeks removed from a Grade 2 MCL sprain and bone bruise to his left knee that initially had his return set at 4-6 weeks. Roethlisberger is ahead of schedule.

Roethlisberger was off crutches within a couple days of the injury, which was an indicator the bone bruise wasn't as bad as originally feared. The MCL injury is typically a 3-4 week injury, but the bone bruise is what usually complicates the timetable to return.

Roethlisberger took part in limited practice a week ago, participating in only scout team seven-on-seven drills. Starting Wednesday, he will test his knee more when he plans to take some first-team reps.

Roethlisberger will get a good indication whether he is an option for Sunday by the way he feels during and after practice.

“It is going to have to be a feel thing, a comfort level — can I make moves in the pocket? Does it hurt when I drop back from center? Does it hurt when I roll out to the left, to the right, sliding up in the pocket after a deep set, a play-action fake?” Roethlisberger said on his weekly radio segment on 93.7 FM.

Even if Roethlisberger practices without an issue and is cleared medically, it doesn't mean Tomlin will sign off on him playing.

“First and foremost, it is the expert medical opinion of our staff,” Tomlin said. “Once we get past that, it's his overall effectiveness. Both boxes have to be checked.”

If Roethlisberger doesn't play this week, he should be ready for the matchup with the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals, who are on a bye this week, at Heinz Field on Nov. 1.

Until there is no question that Roethlisberger is ready, Tomlin is focused on preparing Jones to start his first career game.

Jones, the decorated Oklahoma quarterback who the Steelers took in the fourth round in 2013, struggled adapting to a pro-style offense. Jones took all of his snaps during the preseason and wasn't good.

In 76 preseason possessions in three years, Jones led the Steelers to 62 points. At one point, Jones managed only 19 points over a span of 43 preseason possessions.

That changed against the Cardinals.

Jones directed the offense to a pair of touchdowns and a pair of field goals before taking a knee on the final possession. He finished 8 of 12 for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

“He's logged about as many preseason snaps as anybody in the history of the NFL,” Tomlin said of Jones' 229 snaps in five preseason games. “He really took good advantage of those repetitions, like we all talked about during the course of the preseason. We will build a good and comprehensive plan around Landry and work to get him ready. I am less concerned about who is backing up. I am more concerned about getting Landry ready and getting him the required snaps, so that he can take a step forward in the quality of his play.”

Mark Kaboly is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at mkaboly@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MarkKaboly_Trib.