PITTSBURGH — Nearly two decades in, Ben Roethlisberger is well versed in the rhythms of the season. The first win is met with perhaps unbridled and unrealistic optimism. The first loss, the polar opposite.

The Steelers (1-1) managed to get both out of the way during their first two weeks, following up a rousing victory in Buffalowith a second-half clunker at home to Las Vegas that finished with a steady stream of players heading to the injury report, Roethlisberger included.

The 39-year-old is dealing with a left pectoral issue sustained at some point against the Raiders. He sat out practice on Wednesday, hardly unusual at this point in his career, and said he will do what he can to be on the field Sunday when Pittsburgh hosts Cincinnati (1-1).

“We’re not panicking,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s only the second week. We’re 1-1. We lost to a team that’s 2-0 and it was a one-score game until the end. So it feels like a bad feeling, a bad loss. But we understand it’s still early in the season. Everyone in our division has the same record.”

Even if everyone doesn’t have the same vibe. While Roethlisberger cautioned before the opener he expected some “growing pains” while an offense featuring a new coordinator and four rookies — including two on the line — found its footing, it’s one thing to say that and another thing to experience it.

Far too many times against Las Vegas, Roethlisberger was picking himself up off the Heinz Field turf. He was hit 10 times and sacked twice.

Perhaps more jarringly, there were no teammates around to help him up, something that almost never happened when good friend and former Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was the one snapping Roethlisberger the ball.

It’s not a good look, particularly for an unproven line still searching for some sense of cohesion. Left guard Kevin Dotson acknowledged Wednesday he and left tackle Dan Moore Jr., center Kendrick Green, right guard Trai Turner and right tackle Chuks Okorafor need to do a better job of helping Roethlisberger back to his feet.