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Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drops back to pass under the watchful eye of offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner during training camp in Latrobe.
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Ben Roethlisberger can't wait to take a hit in Tennessee

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Ben Roethlisberger can't wait to take a hit in Tennessee

Steelers QB will make his preseason debut Sunday vs. Titans

Ben Roethlisberger is never quite sure how much work he needs to get ready for the regular season, but there is one thing he wants to get accomplished when he makes his first and only appearance of the preseason Sunday night against the Tennessee Titans.

He wants to get hit.

Not hard, mind you. Nothing too jarring. But something to remind him the regular season is quickly approaching.

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After all, it’s been a while since he has felt that.

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“As a quarterback, you almost want to feel that one hit because it’s been since that last game of the year,” Roethlisberger said. “Most of the guys get at least thudded around and hit a little bit. I don’t. So that first one hurts a little more. You kind of want to get it out of the way early.”

The coaching staff might not share the same sentiment. They do not want Roethlisberger, the least sacked quarterback in the NFL the past four seasons, hit at any point, let alone a meaningless preseason game.

Ideally, they would like their 16-year quarterback to not extend the play and get rid of the ball early to avoid any such hits, big or small. That shouldn’t be a problem for Roethlisberger because he said he will be in charge of the play-calling against the Titans.

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“I’m going to call most of it,” he said.

As has been custom the past several seasons, Roethlisberger did not play in the first two preseason games and will not play in the final one Aug. 29 at Carolina. But he will start and likely play into the second quarter against the Titans.

It is a trend that is really taking off around the league. Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy will not play any of his starters for the second game in a row on Saturday night. Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich, who faces the Bears, said he will not use any of his starters, either. For the second year in a row, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay will not play any starters in the entire preseason.

Roethlisberger said his schedule has worked well for him.

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“There is some value, especially because every game counts in the NFL,” Roethlisberger said Thursday. “All the other major sports, you can get away with losing games and you can kind of warm up to it because their (seasons) are so long. With our season, you can’t really afford to do that. To get out there and get the actual game speed is definitely beneficial. I do think it’s a line you walk, not doing too much for risk of injuries.”

Roethlisberger said the amount of playing time he gets in the preseason is almost completely decided by coach Mike Tomlin.

“He pretty much tells me what he wants me to do,” Roethlisberger said. “There have been times he has told me I’m done and I wanted one more series because it wasn’t quite … we didn’t finish the way we wanted to. He 99.9% of the time overrules me.”

The fine line to which Roethlisberger refers is this: Trying to get some amount of game reps for timing and rhythm purposes as opposed to the risk of injury to a star player. Roethlisberger, of course, is the one player the Steelers can least afford to lose.

It is one of the reasons the Steelers have invested a lot of money to keep intact their offensive line: to protect their two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback. The investment has paid dividends, too. Roethlisberger has been sacked only 82 times since 2015, fewest among all starting quarterbacks.

But that hasn’t always been the case.

Roethlisberger has been sacked more times in his career (501) than any active quarterback. What’s more, he is third all-time behind Brett Favre (525) and his idol, John Elway (516). Sometime before his current three-year deal expires, it is reasonable to assume he will become the league’s all-time leader — a record he does not embrace but one he has come by honestly because of his style of play.

That might be a good enough reason to not play him at all in the preseason, something that could happen in the next couple years.

“That’s the fine line a coach walks,” Roethlisberger said. “Even if you play a little bit, say you played all four games a little bit and don’t play sharp in the opener? There’s always going to be something.

“This week in practice, it’s felt a little different, part being back here (on the South Side), part knowing I’m going to play a little. So I’ve kind of had a little juice, a bolt. It kind of gets you going knowing you’re going to get out there with guys and get some reps and have some fun.”

Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac

First Published: August 22, 2019, 3:17 p.m.

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