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Jeremy Fowler, senior NFL national reporter 8y

Ben Roethlisberger plans to play Friday against Saints

NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints

PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger plans to play in Friday's preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, entering his 13th season in the NFL, doesn't remember missing a third preseason game during his professional career.

"I'd like to be out there. It's a different speed," Roethlisberger said. "I know my line doesn't want to hear it, but I wouldn't mind getting hit once. Maybe after the ball is gone, just a little tap from a defensive guy."

The Steelers have sidelined the offensive trio of Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell for the first two preseason games. Bell's status is uncertain because of his recovery from knee surgery in November, but Brown's chances to play are greater.

Roethlisberger will look to find an in-game rhythm with younger playmakers such as Markus Wheaton, Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers and Jesse James.

Bell will miss the first three games of the season because of an NFL suspension for missed drug tests. DeAngelo Williams, who scored 11 touchdowns last year, will start in Bell's place.

Roethlisberger said he's disappointed "one of the best players in the game" won't be out there Week 1, but the quarterback played just 58 snaps with Bell last year because of a separate suspension and the knee injury suffered Nov. 1 against Cincinnati.

Most players from the core unit that will take the field Friday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome are used to each other.

"Good news is we've done it before, right?" Roethlisberger said. "We know what we get from [Williams]. Happy he's here. Excited we've got a player like him to be out there the first couple of games."

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