It's official. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich won't be on the field Sunday against the Cleveland Browns -- and he won't be the only backup in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers signed Brian Hoyer, the former New England Patriots quarterback, a source close to the player told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport on Tuesday.
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Hoyer wasn't the only move the Steelers made Tuesday. Pittsburgh also signed veteran wideout Plaxico Burress, who began his career with the Steelers, NFL.com's Aditi Kinkhabwala and Rapoport report.
The Steelers later announced, via a team release, that the two players had signed one-year deals.
Hoyer is being brought in to bolster a quarterback group missing injured starter Ben Roethlisberger and now Leftwich, who the team ruled out against the Browns due to multiple rib fractures. The Burress addition is the result of injuries to Antonio Brown and Jerricho Cotchery. Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that Cotchery has been ruled out against the Browns with the same rib injury Leftwich is suffering from.
The Steelers already were preparing 37-year-old Charlie Batch for the start against the Browns, Kinkhabwala reported Monday. Batch has the confidence of coaches, but the Steelers needed help at the position. Tomlin said the team also worked out Mike Kafka.
Tomlin also listed Roethlisberger's status as "doubtful" for the Browns game following positive medical tests, but that's generous. The coach and his team are doing what they can to patch up holes on an offense that remains as a shell of what it was until their starting quarterback returns.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
