We already knew the Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn’t have Ben Roethlisberger for their Sunday showdown with the New England Patriots, but Big Ben could miss an even longer period of time than first expected.
ESPN reported Wednesday that the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The initial diagnosis and reports indicated Roethlisberger was expected to miss just two to three weeks.
Roethlisberger missed time last season with an injury to the same knee, which could be affecting him again this year.
“Doc says my knee looked good, but there still was some stuff in there from when I had my bone bruise last season in St. Louis,” Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He said that might keep me out a little longer than just a simple meniscus tear. Maybe an extra week or so. But there’s no way to put an exact timetable on it. It all depends on my pain and how I feel.”
Roethlisberger injured his knee in the first half of the Steelers’ eventual 30-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins last week, but he returned and played the second half. The veteran quarterback underwent surgery Monday, and the Steelers on Tuesday officially ruled out Roethlisberger for Sunday’s potential playoff preview against New England.
The silver lining for the Steelers, however, is Pittsburgh’s bye week comes after the Patriots game.
Thumbnail photo via Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports Images
