"Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger limped noticeably Wednesday at the team's practice facility, and the quarterback did not address reporters — and their inevitable questions about whether his left ankle will be well enough for him to play Monday night in San Francisco.

Charlie Batch said he expects to start if Roethlisberger is unable to play, a little less than two weeks after sustaining a high-ankle sprain in a 14-3 win over the Browns.

"Being that the game is on Monday, it wouldn't surprise me if I found out on Monday," Batch said.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said yesterday during a conference call with San Francisco reporters that Roethlisberger "can be ready to play on a limited number of snaps. We're always going to be optimistic when it comes to Ben."

Batch came off the bench last Thursday after Roethlisberger got hurt and played the final six minutes of the second quarter. He misfired on both of his pass attempts."