PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger has an unexpected homework assignment during the Steelers' bye week: protecting a fractured right thumb.
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Roethlisberger injured the thumb on his throwing hand sometime during the Steelers' 24-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. He's not sure when it happened, only that he noticed it while coming out for the second half.
"It was hard to determine it on the sideline, but we did all the tests (Monday), and it's fractured in there," Roethlisberger said.
Roethlisberger didn't miss a snap as the Steelers improved to 7-3. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 70 yards in the second half, including a perfect 4 for 4 during the game-winning drive in the third quarter.
"It hurt, but (Steelers head trainer) John Norwig did a great job taping it up, making a quick splint out of tape and going with it," Roethlisberger said. "Squeezing the ball is the hardest part, but it's a good thing that I had a glove on it because that helps gripping it a little bit."
This isn't the first time Roethlisberger has played with a busted thumb. He suffered a similar injury in 2005, though it didn't prevent him from leading the Steelers to their fifth Super Bowl title.
There shouldn't be any issues this time either, though Roethlisberger will continue to play with a splint. The Steelers travel to Kansas City on Nov. 27 for their next game.
"I won't have to throw for a week or so, (until) next Wednesday or whenever we practice next week," said Roethlisberger, who wore a black brace on the finger during Tuesday's short practice. "So, that'll be a good time for it to rest. For me, it'll just be getting used to throwing with a splint on again and a glove on, which I've done before."
It's not unusual for Roethlisberger to play through minor injuries. He suffered a sprained foot during an Oct. 2 loss to the Houston Texans, then tied a franchise record with five touchdown passes in a victory over the Tennessee Titans.
"That's just Ben," Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace said. "You know that something small isn't going to slow him down like that."
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
