Steelers start Dobbs at QB as Big Ben rests

Aug 19, 2017 - 1:09 AM LATROBE, Pa. -- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Josh Dobbs makes his second consecutive preseason start Sunday, against the Atlanta Falcons at Heinz Field.

The team's No. 1 quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, is resting and backup Landry Jones is still working back from an abdominal injury.

Dobbs was 8-for-15 with one touchdown and two interceptions in his first NFL game against the Giants last week.

"It's really been a tremendous opportunity for him to get some big-time reps and exposure because of the injury to Landry," head coach Mike Tomlin said. "Landry has been perking up and I'm sure he'll be back in the fold as a full participant soon."

Undrafted free agent Bart Houston will finish the game after Dobbs comes out.

--Defensive coordinator Keith Butler wants to play more man coverage in the secondary this season, but training camp injuries to several defensive backs put those plans on the back burner. Starting free safety Mike Mitchell and cornerbacks Senquez Golson and Cameron Sutton, two players who were going to push William Gay for the starting slot corner duties, have missed large portions of camp with injuries.

"Our young guys, we have to see what we have in the secondary," Butler said. "We have to get those guys back and see what we can do in camp in terms of the coverages we plan on playing. I don't know what we can do. I don't know about Cam Sutton. I don't know about him. I don't know about Senquez Golson."

Sutton worked in practice in a limited capacity this week and is not expected to play against the Falcons Sunday.

The next few weeks before the regular season begins will be very important for the injured players. Butler has to know his options soon.

"We don't know what he can do yet," Butler said. "Anytime they miss camp they don't get the reps they need. In this setting, playing with their teammates is the big thing. They learn to play together. They have communication. You get the communication problems out of the way.

"I told Mike Mitchell the same thing two years ago when we went down to New England. It was his first game back. He hadn't practiced or played with the first team (in training camp). He got a baptism by fire. I don't want that for these guys. I want them to be ready to play."

--Rookie outside linebacker T.J. Watt has been impressive during training camp and has apparently earned the starting job over veteran James Harrison. Outside linebackers coach Joey Porter told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Watt and third-year player Bud Dupree, a first-round pick in 2015, will start and there will not be a rotation as has been the case in the past few seasons.

Head coach Mike Tomlin wouldn't confirm the decision, but it would not be a major surprise if that's what the coaching staff is thinking. Harrison turned 39 in May and likely would be better served playing fewer snaps. And it's natural to try to get first-round picks involved quickly.

However, it is worth pointing out that Porter made proclamations about playing time for his payers in the past, and those proclamations didn't always hold true. Two years ago, Porter said he was going to give Jarvis Jones the same opportunity as Watt. Jones did start, but Harrison ended up playing starter's snaps because of Jones' ineffective play.

Notes: Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster suffered a bone bruise in practice this week and is unlikely to play against the Falcons ... Linebacker Ryan Shazier (hamstring) hasn't practiced in two weeks and is not expected to play against the Falcons ... Center Maurkice Pouncey (right leg) is expected to return to practice soon ... Cornerback Cameron Sutton practiced on a limited basis this week after missing the first two weeks of camp with a lower body injury. The next step is playing in team contact drills next week ... Cornerback Senquez Golson (hamstring) missed three weeks of practice.