Key NFL Injuries
Ben Roethlisberger: The Steelers quarterback sustained a concussion after taking a hard hit during Pittsburgh's Week 17 victory over Cleveland. Big Ben was strapped to a backboard and carted off the field.
Tom E. Puskar, AP
Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals: The two-time Pro Bowler was carted off the field after a scary helmet-to-helmet collision with the Jets' Eric Smith, but has since returned to the field for the Cardinals. Boldin had surgery for a broken facial bone, while Smith was suspended and fined for the hit.
Mel Evans, AP
Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals quarterback has only played four games this season due to a sprained right elbow injury that he sustained Sept. 21 at the Giants.
David Kohl, AP
Vince Young, Tennessee Titans: The young QB sprained his left knee and was also booed in the Titans' 17-10 win over the Jaguars in Week 1. While Young is now healthy, veteran Kerry Collins has taken over the starting QB gig.
John Russell, AP
Shawne Merriman, San Diego Chargers: After playing just one game this season, the imposing linebacker finally decided to listen to doctors and have season-ending surgery on his torn left knee ligaments.
Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
Tom Brady, New England Patriots: Brady tore the ACL in his left knee in a Week 1 victory over the Chiefs. The future Hall of Fame QB's 128 consecutive start streak officially ended when Brady decided to have season-ending surgery a month later.
Paul Jasienski, Getty Images
Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys running back has dealt with two separate injuries this season. He suffered bruised ribs against the Browns, and later dislocated his right pinkie toe in a Week 13 win over the Seahawks.
Ron T. Ennis, Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT
Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys: And, just like that, the Cowboys were knocked down to one Roy Williams again. Roy Williams, the safety, broke his right forearm for the second time this season in Dallas' loss to the Rams in Week 7.
Jeff Roberson, AP
Rodney Harrison, New England Patriots: New England's safety was knocked out for the season - and possibly for his career - when he tore his quad muscle in a Week 7 victory over the Broncos.
Michael Dwyer, AP
Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals: In October, Cincinnati lost Rivers for the season after Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward peeled back and delivered a punishing block that broke Rivers' jaw. Watch Video of Big Hit
Tom Hauck, Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was carted off the field with an apparent concussion in the second quarter of today's game against the Cleveland Browns.
On the first play after the two-minute warning, Roethlisberger was hit as he threw a pass by Browns linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and Willie McGinest. He lay motionless on the ground for several minutes as the medical staff checked on him, and he was eventually put on a stretcher and taken to the locker room, making a thumbs-up gesture as he left the field. There was no flag on the play. Byron Leftwich replaced Roethlisberger.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will no doubt face criticism this week for having Roethlisberger in the game at all. After all, the Steelers are already locked into the No. 2 AFC seed, so the game is meaningless in terms of the team's playoff position. On the other hand, after the success of the Giants and Patriots a year ago, it's hard to fault NFL coaches who play their top players in Week 17.
The Steelers have two weeks off before they host a divisional playoff game. There's no word yet on how serious Roethlisberger's injury is.
UPDATE: Video of the hit is below.
I'm convinced Steelers quarterback
Recently, a group of football-loving eggheads 
Great news, Steelers fans:
With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. 

There was a time when the Steelers struggled mightily to have one quality quarterback. They shuffled through the Mark Malone's, Bubby Bristers and Kent Grahams. In 1996, Pittsburgh tried to defend a Super Bowl appearance with Mike Tomczak and an inexperienced Kordell Stewart. And they paid the price in the playoffs as Tomczak went 16-for-29 for 110 yards and Stewart was an awful 0-for-10.
A few days ago, Republican Vice President candidate 

