By Mark Kaboly

Published: Thursday, January 5, 2012

Fewer than 24 hours after Mike Tomlin said Ben Roethlisberger's left high-ankle sprain was "no worse" than it was before the Cleveland game, the Steelers quarterback revealed that he suffered a setback against the Browns that left him limited during Wednesday's practice.

Roethlisberger said he aggravated the injury on a third-quarter play against the Browns, but it wasn't bad enough for him to leave the game. He is expected to start when the Steelers play Denver on Sunday in an AFC wild-card game.

"I felt really good going into the Cleveland game," said Roethlisberger, who first injured the ankle Dec. 8 against the Browns at Heinz Field. "I don't know if I caught it on the ground wrong or got hit ... we'll see; we'll be all right."

Roethlisberger had a noticeable limp, something he didn't have going into the Browns' game after sitting out the week before against St. Louis.

"We are working really hard with the doctors and trainers to get back to even where we were before the Cleveland game," Roethlisberger said. "I felt pretty good going in, and even moved a little bit at the beginning of that game."

Since he first hurt his ankle in the first half of the Cleveland game in December, Roethlisberger has played six quarters and has thrown one touchdown, four interceptions and has a passer rating of 68.5. In games before the injury, Roethlisberger had a 95.1 passer rating.

"When I play bad, it's because of turnovers or not completing passes or whatever," Roethlisberger said.

Since his injury, Roethlisberger has had two of his four worst passer ratings. Four of his six-worst passer ratings this year have resulted in losses, with the other two being 13-9 wins over Kansas City, and then Cleveland.

"I definitely have to pick up my level of play," Roethlisberger said. "Now is the time to do it."

1. Steelers hope new blocking scheme kick-starts running game
2. Steelers notebook: Gilbert hopes to stay on left side of O-line
3. Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger likes the revamped offense
4. Steelers veteran outside linebacker Woodley: ‘I’m good to go’
5. Steelers notebook: Slimmed-down Redman optimistic for 2013
6. Steelers’ Polamalu trim, fit as he arrives for OTAs
7. Steelers’ Miller watches, waits while teammates practice
8. Steelers rookie moves on after PSU scandal
9. Steelers might be looking at a youth movement in 2013
10. Coach Tomlin, Steelers facing plenty of questions as OTAs start
11. Steelers notebook: Less talk, more work is Tomlin’s theme

Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.