The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hears Byron Leftwich (broken arm) may not be out for the season after all.

Leftwich's injury was gruesome, but it was to his non-throwing arm. The dilemma for the Steelers is that he's not eligible for the reserve/PUP list, so he'll be occupying a valuable roster spot while sidelined for what we suspect will be at least a couple of months.

Byron Leftwich has been diagnosed with a broken upper left arm, and is expected to be placed on injured reserve.

The injury means 36-year-old Charlie Batch will again be Ben Roethlisberger's primary backup, while Dennis Dixon should no longer be shopped. The Steelers were able to go 3-1 with Dixon and Batch at the helm last season, and wouldn't necessarily be sunk if Roethlisberger was required to miss a few games this season.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweeted after the Steelers' third preseason game Saturday that it "looks like" backup QB Byron Leftwich has a broken left arm.

Bouchette apparently made the observation in the locker room after the game. Leftwich attempted just two passes Saturday, completing one for 11 yards before the injury. He had a clear lead on Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon to be Ben Roethlisberger's primary clipboard holder. The Steelers may now have to rethink their plans to shop Dixon for trade. Batch will move up a notch.

Byron Leftwich remains the clear No. 2 quarterback in Pittsburgh.

Leftwich has never started a game for the Steelers, but projects as the long-term backup. He's just 31 and has a 24-25 career record as a starting quarterback. Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch are battling for the No. 3 job and a roster spot.

Byron Leftwich is locked in as the Steelers' No. 2 quarterback for the 2011 season.

Dennis Dixon's free agency status is up in the air depending on the labor outcome, but Leftwich is fully expected to be the primary backup regardless. Coach Mike Tomlin and director of football operations Kevin Colbert both have a high comfort level with Leftwich as Ben Roethlisberger insurance.

Byron Leftwich, signed through the 2011 season, suggested that he would be content to spend his NFL twilight years backing up Ben Roethlisberger.

"Pittsburgh is a special place," said Leftwich, with high praise for the Rooney family. Coach Mike Tomlin said Leftwich has been "awesome" and director of football operations Kevin Colbert calls him a "great No. 2." If the arrangement is headed toward a multi-year commitment, the Steelers could allow Dennis Dixon to leave via free agency.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Byron Leftwich would start this weekend if Ben Roethlisberger (foot) is unable to go.

Big Ben is fully expected to play, but this clarifies the backup situation in Pittsburgh. Leftwich earned the No. 2 job a few weeks ago and has evidently held off veteran Charlie Batch.

Byron Leftwich will handle backup duties to Ben Roethlisberger in Week 6 against the Browns.

Leftwich has leapfrogged Charlie Batch, who is the No. 3 QB. Emmanuel Sanders will replace Antonio Brown as the primary kickoff returner. Steelers inactives: CB Keenan Lewis, RB Jonathan Dwyer, CB Crezdon Butler, OT Tony Hills, OL Trai Essex, WR Antonio Brown, and LB Thaddeus Gibson.

Coach Mike Tomlin remains noncommittal on his No. 2 quarterback heading into this week's game against the Browns.

Byron Leftwich (knee) wasn't yet back to full health before last week's bye. The Steelers traded for him as Big Ben insurance, so we'd expect him to get the nod as soon as he proves he's back to pre-injury form.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette believes Byron Leftwich (knee) will start over Charlie Batch this week.

An even slower-footed Leftwich is still the lesser of two evils after Batch showed that he has nothing left in the tank at Tennessee. Leftwich is a poor fantasy option, but he's a better QB choice for owners of Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, and Heath Miller.

Updating a previous item, coach Mike Tomlin doesn't anticipate Byron Leftwich's knee being a prohibitive issue for this week's game at Tampa.

"We're going to proceed through the week and see how this thing sorts out," explained Tomlin. Charlie Batch is in the "pole position" because he's healthy entering the practice week, but Leftwich will lap him by Friday if his knee makes it through three practices. We're tentatively expecting Leftwich to start against the Bucs.

Coach Mike Tomlin indicated that the Steelers will not sign a third quarterback this week with Dennis Dixon (knee) out.

They must be fairly confident in Byron Leftwich's chances of starting at Tampa this week. There's little chance that Tomlin would go forward with only Charlie Batch if Leftwich wasn't ready to see first-team reps in practice this week.

Steelers QB Byron Leftwich will test out his injured knee Wednesday to see if he's ready to play yet.

"I'm feeling better, a whole lot better. I want to get through a full practice," Leftwich said. "I'm quite sure they want to see me get through a full practice, too." If he looks good, it's possible Leftwich could start in Week 3 over Charlie Batch.

Steelers re-signed QB Byron Leftwich.

Dennis Dixon injured the same knee in which he tore his ACL at Oregon on Sunday, so he may not play in Week 3. Charlie Batch came on in relief, yet mustered just 25 passing yards on 11 attempts. So, it's not crazy to think Leftwich could start in Week 3 at Tampa Bay. The 2-0 Bucs are no longer pushovers, and coach Mike Tomlin will wants his best, healthiest option out there. Dixon is the best option when everyone is healthy, but don't look for the Steelers to announce their starter before the end of the week.

Steelers released QB Byron Leftwich.

DE Steve McLendon was signed from the practice squad to create depth on the Steelers defensive line after the injury to NT Casey Hampton. Leftwich should be back next week once Hampton gets healthy. In the meantime, Pittsburgh will carry two quarterbacks (Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch) Sunday against Tennessee.

Steelers QB Byron Leftwich (knee, probable) returned to a full practice Friday.

Leftwich will probably spend another week as Pittsburgh's No. 3 QB, behind Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch. The coaching staff probably won't be motivated to reinsert Leftwich onto the game-day roster until they lose a game.

Byron Leftwich (knee) was limited again in Thursday's practice.

Dennis Dixon has already been announced as the starter at Tennessee on Sunday. If Leftwich gets back to 100 percent next week, he'll give coach Mike Tomlin an alternative should Dixon struggle against the Titans.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suggests Byron Leftwich (knee) could be ready to play by Week 3.

Leftwich's role upon his return will depend on how Dennis Dixon fares this week against the Titans. If Dixon plays like he did against the Falcons last week, Leftwich could be in line to draw the starts until Ben Roethlisberger gets back in Week 6.

Updating a previous item, Steelers QB Byron Leftwich (knee) practiced on a limited basis Wednesday.

Leftwich is getting closer to being healthy enough to overtake Charlie Batch for the primary backup job, though he figures to be the No. 3 QB this week. With the Steelers preparing to not have left tackle Max Starks (ankle) against the Titans, the immobile Leftwich would be a sack waiting to happen.

Byron Leftwich acknowledged Wednesday (knee) that he's "not sure when he'll be ready" to resume playing.

There had been speculation that Leftwich might resume practicing this week, but it's apparently not a sure thing. Leftwich will wear a brace on his knee for the rest of the season. He'll be a backup when he returns to health.