Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the AFC Offensive Player of the Week, did not practice with his teammates during their bye week.

All's well in Pittsburgh, though, or at least most of them are getting to that point, including Roethlisberger.

Big Ben has had a sore right shoulder -- technically a slight separation -- since Houston defensive end Mario Williams sacked him and he landed on it in the opener. He has not missed a game because of it, but he has missed a number of practices. Roethlisberger did not practice last Wednesday or Thursday, then came out and threw the ball a season-high 41 times for 309 yards and three touchdowns to beat the Jaguars in Jacksonville, 26-21.

The shoulder took another hit as he completed a crucial 18-yard pass to Hines Ward on third down from Jacksonville's 31 with two defenders hanging on him. That led to his eight-yard touchdown pass to Ward with 1:53 left for the game-winner.

"For a guy not to practice and go out there and put up over 300 yards passing, I can't describe how a guy can do that," Ward said.

Roethlisberger has had injuries to his knee and hand as well as his shoulder this year. He's been sacked 18 times and hit many more, but he hasn't missed a start and was replaced other than for mop-up duty only in the final minutes of their loss to Baltimore when he ran inside to have his right hand X-rayed.

It's a nice time for a bye for Big Ben and his teammates.

"I don't have anything too serious, bumps and bruises and stuff like that. For me it's getting those bruises worked out and feeling good next week," Roethlisberger said.

When the Steelers resume play Oct. 19 in Cincinnati, they expect many of their injured to return, including defensive end Brett Keisel (out three games, calf), halfback Willie Parker (missed 1 1/2 games, knee), nose tackle Casey Hampton (out two games, groin), fullback Cary Davis (out 1 1/2 games, ankle), left tackle Marvel Smith (left game in Jacksonville, cramps) and kicker Jeff Reed, who strained his calf in Jacksonville.

The Steelers are 4-1, their three victories after a runaway win vs. Houston by five points or fewer.

"It's a good way to go into the break," Roethlisberger said. "It's coming at the right time. It's a time for people who have bumps and bruises to really get healed up. I think we'll come back next week and feel really good about ourselves and where we are at."

Sacked 47 times last season, Roethlisberger is on pace for almost 58 this season, which would set a Steelers record. His teammates, though, say they don't worry about his safety.

"Not at all," receiver Santonio Holmes said. "He's a big, physical guy. He takes care of himself. Coach gives him the right amount of time to take off."

Roethlisberger will have had more than a week off from the football field by the time the Steelers return to practice next Wednesday -- if he practices that day.

"I know that he will be healthy enough to play winning football," Mike Tomlin said of his quarterback. "I think he is there right now even though he is not comfortable all of the time from a standpoint of preparation, at least from where I see it. But yes, he is going to be closer to 100 percent healthy. We will see where he is at the end of this thing."