Steelers Bring Back WR Burress, Ink QB Hoyer to Back Up Batch

As expected today, the Steelers made some roster moves – one was expected, the other – quite the surprise.

First the expected one, which is QB Brian Hoyer, who joins the team as an insurance policy since the team will be without starting QB Ben Roethlisberger and backup Byron Leftwich Sunday in Cleveland.

Leftwich has been ruled out for the game vs the Browns with multiple rib fractures. 37-year-old Charlie Batch will get the start for the Steelers, while Hoyer will be the backup.

Hoyer played last with the New England Patriots, and has never started a pro game.

The shocking move – the team came to terms with former first-round pick wide out Plaxico Burress.

Burress re-joins the team after playing for them from 2000 to 2004, and then he went on to play for the Giants, where he caught the game-winner in Super Bowl XLVII, and last season he played for the Jets.

He missed two seasons in between while spending time in prison after having a gun he was illegally carrying in a New York City nightclub, where he shot himself in the leg on accident.

injuries to Jerricho Cotchery and Antonio Brown have hurt the Steelers passing game, and they are thin at the position, a main reason for bringing Plax back.

“We’re looking at these guys with the potential to sign at least one at each position,” Mike Tomlin said today. “The men we will acquire will fortify our depth to win this football game.”

Roethlisberger was termed as “doubtful” for the game by Tomlin, as he and the team hold out hope he can return the following week against the Ravens on the road.

The moves to open spots for Hoyer and Burress include cutting LB Marshall McFadden and RB Baron Batch.