Steelers backup Jones excited for 'huge game' against Brady, Patriots

PITTSBURGH — The New England Patriots vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers was supposed to be the National Football League's next marquee matchup, but Sunday's contest has lost much of its luster, thanks to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's left knee injury.

Instead of two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks meeting at Heinz Field, fans will see one of the game’s all-time greats in New England's Tom Brady, a four-time Super Bowl champion, and Steelers backup quarterback Landry Jones, who is in the last year of his contract with the team and understands how big this game may be to his future.

"For me, this is a huge game for my career and the direction I want to go," Jones said. "I'm just excited for the opportunity, excited to get out there and actually get in there and play."

Jones, who is 1-1 in his two career starts, knows he can't play tight or be worried about making mistakes.

"I think if you are a backup in these types of situations, you can almost try to be too perfect and too careful." He said.  "One time, Coach Tomlin said something along the lines, ‘Gunfighters are going to get shot.’ For me, I'd rather go out there and cut it loose and play like that than try to be too careful,” Jones said.

“Obviously, you want to play smart, but you've got to take what the defense gives you and be cautiously aggressive, if I can say it like that."

The former Oklahoma Sooner said he will lean on Roethlisberger when he can this week, but his main focus is a solid week of practice and prep for the Patriots.  "I'm just going to go out and make good decisions all week, you know, just prepare the way I like the way I've always kind of done," Jones said.  "I feel I was prepared in Miami. I feel like I was prepared for Kansas City. Learn from the mistakes I've made like I said before and go out there and have fun."

Facing Brady and the Patriots adds to Jones' excitement. "I grew up watching the dude, so it's just another exciting opportunity to go out there and play against one of the guys I grew up watching."

Can Jones be the young gunfighter that beats arguably the best gunfighter of all time?

He will get his chance to answer that question Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field.

Cox Media Group