Roethlisberger will miss opener after appendectomy

[AP] - Ben Roethlisberger had an emergency appendectomy Sunday and will miss the Steelers' season opener at home Thursday against the Dolphins, the NFL's marquee opening-night game.

Coach Bill Cowher said he was not sure how long his quarterback, who became ill before practice, will be out.

Charlie Batch, the former Lions starter who was 2-0 as a fill-in last season when Roethlisberger hurt his knee, will start against the Dolphins. Batch and Roethlisberger are the only quarterbacks on Pittsburgh's roster.

This is yet another medical setback for Roethlisberger, who nearly died in a June 12 motorcycle accident only to make a remarkably fast recovery. He missed no practice time during training camp and played better in the preseason than he did a year ago before leading the Steelers to their first Super Bowl victory in 26 years.

Roethlisberger missed four games last season because of knee injuries, one of which required surgery, and injured his right thumb late in the season but he missed no playing time because of that injury.