When Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was forced out of the game against the Chiefs yesterday, Pittsburgh didn’t exude the nervousness that most teams show when their star quarterback is knocked out. QB Charlie Batch has shown himself to be capable several times over, and while he’s not starter material, he is able to handle himself when he hits the field.

But when the news hit this morning that Batch would be out for the next six weeks with a wrist injury, a slight sense of panic is most definitely on the minds of many players in Pittsburgh, as they’ll have to turn to third string QB Dennis Dixon next week if Roethlisberger is unable to suit up due to the concussion he suffered at the hands… make that knee of Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson.

Dixon was a talented collegiate QB with a ton of versatility when the Steelers drafted him two years ago, but he’s thrown all of one pass in the NFL since, and will be facing a ton of pressure to perform at a high level, given Pittsburgh desperate need for a win next week.

The Steelers may get lucky and have Roethlisberger pass his exam this week to gain clearance to play, and according to Yahoo! Sport’s Mark J. Miller, the early indications are definitely looking good. But if he is forced to sit this one out, you can bet that Pittsburgh will be dialing their playbook down a few notches and circling the wagons to protect Dixon, relying instead on their stout defense and a running game they all but abandoned late in the game yesterday against Kansas City.

As always, we’ll keep you posted when more information becomes available.