ben roethlisberger Steelers 2015
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hasn't completely ruled himself out of Sunday's matchup with Cleveland, but head coach Mike Tomlin says he's planning to start third-year passer Landry Jones. Getty Images

The Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers can’t seem to figure out how much time their injured star quarterbacks will miss. After word spread Tuesday that a lacerated kidney and torn abdominal muscle would keep him out two-to-six weeks, the Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is “realistically” expected sit out at least the next month, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder.

However, the Steelers may still go with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger despite the mid-foot sprain he sustained in Week 9. That is if Roethlisberger can convince head coach Mike Tomlin.

Luck, who has also dealt with shoulder and rib injuries this season, was injured in the fourth quarter of Indianapolis’ upset victory over previously undefeated Denver on Sunday. He took a hit from Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan but played on to connect with running back Ahmad Bradshaw for a touchdown and the 27-24 victory to snap a three-game losing streak.

Nevertheless, the Colts can’t expect Luck to play through another injury, let alone one to an internal organ, and veteran Matt Hasselbeck is expected to start for the third time this season after Indianapolis rests up during their bye and then heads to Atlanta for Week 12.

Hasselbeck’s gone 2-0 with 495 yards and three touchdowns for a 95.0 passer rating, last appearing in Week 5’s win over AFC South rival Houston.

Alluding to Week 11‘s late bye, Roethlisberger said on his weekly radio on Tuesday that he hasn’t completely ruled out playing against the Cleveland Browns even though initial reports said the injury would take two to three weeks to heal.

“The bye will come at a good time, but I’m not even going to rule myself out this week,” Roethlisberger said on 93.7 FM The Fan. “I’m going to take it one day at a time.”

Roethlisberger also opened up about how team doctors and trainers are treating the injury.

“I can walk on it. I’m not running around or anything but the smart thing to do, from what doc has told me and the trainers is just to kinda keep ice on it and get the swelling out and just kind of rest it, let it heal.”

Hoping to avoid another absence after missing four games with a sprained knee ligament, Roethlisberger currently has Pittsburgh positioned in the final AFC wild card spot after Sunday’s win over Oakland.

Tomlin’s quite aware of his squad’s early standing in playoff race, but he’s exercising caution and told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the door is “just slightly ajar” for his superstar passer to come back so quickly.

“We anticipate playing without him and playing with Landry [Jones],” Tomlin said. “From a playing standpoint, much like a couple weeks ago, we’re preparing to play with Landry.”

Now in his third NFL season but only seeing action for the first time three weeks ago, Jones has completed 59.6 percent of his attempts for 356 yards and three touchdowns to two interceptions.

But the 26-year-old Jones lost the only start of his career, tossing both of those picks at Kansas City in a 23-13 letdown in Week 7.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys still await the return of Tony Romo. The veteran quarterback has not played since Nov. 20, and will continue to practice in a limited capacity.

Romo is eligible to return in Week 11 on Nov. 22 against the Miami Dolphins. The Cowboys have a 2-6 record this season, and their playoff hopes appear dim.

"We can't sit and wait on Romo," defensive end Jeremy Mincey told the Dallas Morning News. "He's not Jesus, you know.

"You can't sit and wait on him because it [Philadelphia] was a game we could have easily won without him being there. It's our fault. We've got to suck it up, keep going and get better."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has already shot down the idea that Romo will sit if the Cowboys continue to slip in the playoff race.

"When he gets on the field against Miami, and it most assuredly will be at this juncture, there's no set of circumstances that we wouldn't play him and play him with hopes of winning that game and winning the rest of the ball games," Jones told 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Tuesday. "I think not only our game but sports in general, if you've got an opportunity, if you got a chance to win this thing, then you take it.

"I know I'm talking in generalities, but specifically, we have a team that could really, from the standpoint of the personnel that's on the field, really be a top team as we get into the last half of this season. We want to show our fans that."