Ben Roethlisberger is not your average quarterback. He’s big (real big), he’s mobile and, apparently, he’s indestructible. Every season, it seems as if Big Ben is smacked around to the point that he’s about to fall apart at the seams, and every season, he somehow manages to tough out the bumps, bruises and torn ligaments to lead his team to a victory.

Just this year, Big Ben was forced off the field in Week 9 with what looked to be a severe foot injury, only to return a week later, as the backup, to throw for 379 yards, three touchdowns and a win over the Cleveland Browns.

So when Denver heard that Roethlisberger had suffered a sprained AC joint and torn ligaments in his right (throwing) shoulder, I’m sure every Broncos fan thought the same thing: Oh, yeah, he’s playing.

And he probably will. All reports list Roethlisberger as probable for Sunday’s game. But don’t be mistaken, Big Ben IS NOT healthy.

Early Wednesday morning, Roethlisberger talked to the media, and he made it clear that this injury is more than just a nuisance; it’s a real problem.

And as of Wednesday morning, Roethlisberger has yet to throw a pass in preparation for this weekend’s playoff matchup versus the Broncos.

Still, it’s not as if a quarterback hasn’t ever started after missing a few days of reps. If healthy, we should expect Roethlisberger to be just as good as ever, even after a week of limited practice. The thing, though, is that he’s not healthy, and from his words on Wednesday, even Big Ben is worried about his ability to throw the ball effectively.

Not to mention, the fact that Big Ben is set to suit up against the Denver Broncos defense has to weigh on his mind.

And with all that said, Roethlisberger will almost undoubtedly play on Sunday. All this talk may be nothing but a smokescreen, and we’ve seen it before. While Big Ben is as tough as they come, he’s also not afraid to let everyone know just how injured he is, all before coming out and valiantly leading the Steelers through the pain.

Whether he plays or not, this is all good news for the Denver Broncos.