It keeps getting worse for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Adding more injury to injury (which is insulting), Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a "rare and dangerous" rib injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter also tweeted: "Doctors are concerned that Ben Roethlisberger's rib injury could lead to more internal damage if he were to play Sunday."

The Steelers announced Wednesday that Roethlisberger will miss Sunday night's game against the division-leading Baltimore Ravens. Veteran Byron Leftwich will get the start.

Ed Bouchette followed the report up by saying, chillingly, "don't look for him to play for a while."

Obviously that's not the most specific timetable, but "a while" is already at least one week. According to NFL.com, the last time the doctor they spoke with had seen this particular rib injury was on a rugby player in 1998.

They did not specify how long that rugby player was out. Not sure why. Also unclear is the Steelers' chances this Sunday and beyond. Roethlisberger, heading into Week 10 at least, had to be considered as a league MVP candidate. But rare, life-threatening rib injuries take precedent, and Ben will sit down for "a while."

This story originally appeared at SB Nation.

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