Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to start against Chargers

The Pittsburgh Steelers will start Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback Sunday when they play the San Diego Chargers.

The 6-foot-5 veteran has missed the last three games after spraining his right, throwing shoulder and dislocating a rib Nov. 12 against the Kansas City Chiefs. But after practice Thursday he said he felt “good.�

And that’s enough for now, according to offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

“He looks like himself for the most part,� Haley said. “Now I don’t know what he’s feeling when he’s doing some of those things. But it looks like he’s moving around pretty good.

“I think he understands his body better than anybody,� Haley said. “He’s the one that’s got to make the decisions, and we’ll just try to put him in the best positions to succeed.�

As an added precaution, Roethlisberger will wear a special compression shirt as well as an extra layer of thin kevlar padding underneath his shoulder pads to help absorb hits to his shoulder and rib areas.

The extra padding is similar to what Eagles quarterback Michael Vick and Steelers safety Troy Polamalu have worn.

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