The Associated Press

Jamal Lewis' drug conspiracy trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 1, the middle of the NFL season.

The date, set Thursday by a federal court, comes between the eighth and ninth weeks of the season, meaning that if the trial goes on as scheduled, Lewis could miss a number of games. The Ravens are at Philadelphia on Oct. 31, then play host to Cleveland the following Sunday.

Lewis and Angelo Jackson, a childhood friend, are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, and using a cell phone in violation of federal law.

Last season, Lewis became the fifth player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards with 2,066, just short of Eric Dickerson's record of 2,105.

STEELERS: Before his first college game, Ben Roethlisberger made a statement he repeated Thursday, two days before his first pro game. He likes to get that first hit out of the way.

"I know I said that in college," the rookie quarterback said. "Well, the first hit broke my nose, so that wasn't such a good thing to say."

Roethlisberger missed a play in his debut against Michigan, came back and didn't come out again over the next three years at Miami.

In Pittsburgh's preseason opener against Detroit Saturday, Roethlisberger will play more than he expected because of an injury to Charlie Batch.

Batch underwent an MRI exam that revealed "a loose body in his knee," according to coach Bill Cowher. He is expected to miss two to three weeks.

Cowher said Tommy Maddox would play the first quarter, with "Ben and Brian (St. Pierre) playing the rest."

GIANTS: Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey felt a little soreness Thursday after practicing with the New York Giants for the first time since having a screw inserted in his right foot in June.

Shockey felt the soreness was the result of having too much time between plays Wednesday.

"The hardest thing was they limited me," Shockey said. "They only told me to go one rep every period, so I got cold. That was more dangerous, because I was sitting there the whole time."

Shockey had 48 catches in nine games last season before a knee injury ended his season.

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