Steelers declared QB Byron Leftwich, WR/KR Antonio Brown, CB Keenan Lewis, RB Jonathan Dwyer, OT Tony Hills, OL Ramon Foster, LB Thaddeus Gibson, and CB Crezdon Butler inactive for Week 1 against Atlanta.

Dennis Dixon will start at quarterback, as expected. With Brown not suiting up, Antwaan Randle El is expected to handle punt returns with Mewelde Moore taking over on kickoffs. Isaac Redman will handle short-yardage duties, though Rashard Mendenhall will stay in at the goal line.

Byron Leftwich (knee) hopes to be able to play by Week 2.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that Leftwich will actually be listed as "doubtful" and not "out" for Week 1, but he's not going to play this weekend. Whether he plays in Week 2 or not might depend as much on how Dennis Dixon fares in Week 1 as it does to Leftwich's recovery.

Profootballtalk.com reports that Byron Leftwich is getting a second opinion on his injured MCL.

Leftwich is seeking clarity about the injury's severity, in addition to a timetable for return. The initial timetable was 2-4 weeks, due to a Grade 2 sprain of the knee ligament. Either way, he's not going to start Week 1.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports Byron Leftwich has a second-degree sprain of his left MCL, contradicting the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's report that Leftwich had torn the MCL.

Leftwich avoided a complete tear, according to Mort. Though he believes he can avoid surgery and start the season opener next week, a Steelers source called that possibility "not likely." The recovery timetable for a grade-2 MCL sprain is typically 2-4 weeks. Leftwich had less than an iron grip on the starting job prior to the injury. The Steelers won't want an even less mobile version under center, so we're tentatively expecting Dennis Dixon to remain the starter until Ben Roethlisberger returns.

An MRI has reportedly confirmed that Byron Leftwich tore the MCL in his left knee.

Depending on the severity of the tear, Leftwich could miss anywhere from 2-8 weeks. It sounds like the Steelers expect him to be out at least a month, putting him in a race with Ben Roethlisberger to return to game action. Dennis Dixon will take over as the Week 1 starter, and he should keep the job until Big Ben returns from his suspension in October.

Steelers QB Charlie Batch confirmed that Byron Leftwich's MCL injury is considered "serious."

Dennis Dixon pointed out that he couldn't speak with Leftwich because team doctors had him surrounded while working on his knee. Dixon's comments indicated that the Steelers expect Leftwich to miss multiple weeks: "It's an opportunity, I guess, but it's unfortunate for Byron for what he went through," said Dixon. "But this team has to continue to go forward."

Profootballtalk.com has learned that Byron Leftwich sustained damage to his left MCL in Thursday's game.

The severity of the damage hasn't been disclosed, but PFT's source says, "Whatever it is seems to be serious." Leftwich's four-game window on the Steelers' starting job is closing. While no timetable has been suggested for Leftwich's return, it seems likely that Dennis Dixon will at least start the season opener.

Byron Leftwich left Thursday's preseason finale with a left knee injury.

Leftwich took a hit to the knee by one of his own players blocked into him. Play-by-play man Bob Pompeani said the injury "didn't look good," and Leftwich has reportedly been sent to a local hospital for an MRI. Charlie Batch will take over for the rest of the game, and Dennis Dixon is now the favorite to start in Week 1 -- barring unexpectedly good news from the MRI results.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin hinted Friday that he may not name a starting quarterback before Week 1 for competitive purposes.

Tomlin believes this will make it more difficult for the Falcons to prepare, and he's right. Dennis Dixon and Byron Leftwich are very different players. Tomlin also confirmed that Dixon has earned more first-team reps in practice. It wouldn't be surprising if both quarterbacks played extensively in the opener. The Steelers like Leftwich's experience, but Dixon is going to be hard to keep off the field because of his talent and playmaking ability.

Byron Leftwich finished 3-of-6 for 95 yards and a touchdown against the Giants in Saturday's exhibition game.

Mike Wallace toasted the Giants defense, and Leftwich wound up for a 68-yard bomb for a score. His next drive failed to produce a score when the clock expired at third-and-goal. Dennis Dixon came on to outplay him for the second straight week, leading two scoring drives while finishing an efficient 7-of-8 for 82 yards.

Starting for the Steelers in the preseason opener against the Lions, Byron Leftwich completed 6-of-10 passes for 43 yards.

Leftwich got an early taste of life with Flozell Adams when Lions DE Cliff Avril beat him with a speed move for a sack. Leftwich's notoriously long delivery also came into play, allowing Kyle Vanden Bosch to his arm in motion after beating left guard Chris Kemoeatu on an inside rush.

Byron Leftwich is dealing with a minor thumb problem.

The "injury" is not expected to sideline Leftwich for Saturday's preseason opener, but we may not see him out there for very long.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin declined to name his starting quarterback for Saturday's preseason opener.

Byron Leftwich will almost certainly be under center come Week 1, but it's unclear if the suspended Ben Roethlisberger will get some chances to run with the starters. It's a juggling act for Tomlin with Big Ben expected to be back in Week 6.

Byron Leftwich has staunchly maintained his role as the Steelers' likely Weeks 1-4 starter through one week of training camp.

Dennis Dixon is clearly behind Leftwich in the "competition," which hasn't turned out to be much of a competition at all. Reviews of Leftwich's practice play have been mixed. We still wouldn't be surprised to see Dixon steal snaps in the first four weeks, or perhaps even replace Leftwich outright.

Coach Mike Tomlin suggested Thursday that Byron Leftwich will enter training camp as the favorite to start the season opener.

"I think how we distributed (repetitions) is an indication of our mindset at this juncture," Tomlin said. Leftwich ran the first-team offense all spring, so Dennis Dixon will have to "play lights out" in August to upset the depth chart.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette, it has become "obvious" that Byron Leftwich will open the season as the Steelers' starting quarterback.

Dennis Dixon has yet to work with the first team while Leftwich ran the offense from late April until Big Ben's return this week. We can safely say that Dixon was never given a fair shot, but it's hard to fault coach Mike Tomlin for being comfortable with Leftwich. While Dixon offered more upside as a dynamic playmaker, Leftwich's edge as a passer is good news for the fantasy prospects of the Steelers receivers.

Byron Leftwich once again received the bulk of the first-team reps in Tuesday's practice.

All three quarterbacks are getting work, but this certainly doesn't appear to be a competition conducted on equal footing. Ben Roethlisberger could return to practice next week, so it's hard to picture Dennis Dixon working in with the starters.

Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged Tuesday that Byron Leftwich has taken "the bulk" of first-team reps in early practices.

Leftwich was the starter when the Steelers opened their mandatory minicamp in late April, so this is no surprise. Though Tomlin doesn't want a "pure, open quarterback competition" to spread the snaps thin, he appeared to back off an earlier statement that a starter would be in place before training camp. It's nice to see that he's at least left the window slightly open for Dennis Dixon.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Byron Leftwich is currently the favorite to begin the season as the Steelers' starting quarterback.

Schefter calls it "Leftwich's job to lose," though he may be simply reading the tea leaves after Big Byron ran with the first-team offense at the team's most recent minicamp. The situation should be completely avoided in fantasy leagues, as packages of Dennis Dixon figure to be incorporated. The more talented Dixon could also overtake Leftwich outright in camp. Look for Pittsburgh to open the year with lots of Rashard Mendenhall.

Updating a previous item, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin now says he'll decide on his Week 1 starting quarterback by the time training camp opens in late July.

"Really, it's not a three-man quarterback competition at this point," Tomlin said. "We know what all three men are capable of doing." While Tomlin plans to have his pecking order settled by training camp, he suggested that he may not make the decision public. Byron Leftwich opened the previous minicamp with the starters, but Dennis Dixon's talent advantage may be too much for Tomlin to ignore.