Report: Steelers to Sign Brian Hoyer or Mike Kafka Today
By Josh Hill
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a bit of a conundrum that is threatening to derail their already iffy season. A week ago starter Ben Roethlisberger suffered a pretty serious rib injury, one that actually could have threatened his life, and his replacement suffered a similar albeit less serious injury. The situation means the Steelers are down to just one healthy quarterback on roster in veteran Charlie Batch.
Pittsburgh intends to change that.
The team will be trying out two quarterbacks Tuesday, Brian Hoyer and Mike Kafka and they intend on signing one of the two well ahead of next week’s game.
Hoyer is probably best known for being one of the billion quarterbacks that have played behind Tom Brady in New England and never saw the light of day outside of an exhibition match. In his three years with the Patriots, Hoyer completed 27 of 43 passes for 286 yards with one touchdown and one interception before falling victim to final cuts this past August.
Kafka may be more well known to Pennsylvania football fans as he played his college days at Northwestern in the Big Ten. But as for Kafka’s NFL experience, he only completed 11 of 16 passes for 107 yards with two interceptions in the action he saw last season. There was much talk that the Eagles were attempting to trade him in late August but a deal was never made and he was let go as part of Philly’s final cuts.
Neither quarterback is going to fix what’s happening in Pittsburgh but that’s the thing, there’s nothing too awful happening. All Hoyer or (more likely) Kakfa needs to do is manage if they’re put into the game. Chances are they’ll not see action unless something happens to Batch, as the Steelers wouldn’t have him on roster if they didn’t plan on using him.
Whatever happens in Pittsburgh it’s likely not going to end pretty and if the Steelers luck their way into the postseason, don’t expect a miraculous run with Kafka or Hoyer under center.