National Football League

Report: Steelers to start Roethlisberger

Published Dec. 18, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to start in Monday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers after overcoming an ankle sprain.

Roethlisberger sustained the injury in a 14-3 win against Cleveland on Dec. 8 and practiced for the first time on Friday.

According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sources, Roethlisberger showed enough in practice on Saturday that the decision was made for him to play.

"He's good enough to go," the source said.

The decision was reportedly made even before the Baltimore Ravens lost 34-14 to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, the result giving the Steelers a great chance in the season's final three games to secure the AFC's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.