If an 0-2 start wasn’t bad enough, the Pittsburgh Steelers will now be without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who needs elbow surgery and is out for the rest of the season.
From @GMFB: #Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has an MRI on his elbow today, but the non-contact injury has teammates concerned about its seriousness. pic.twitter.com/hjt9R4ckfq
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2019
Roethlisberger hurt his right elbow in Sunday’s 28-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on what appeared to be a non-contact injury.
Here's a video of the Ben Roethlisberger injury.pic.twitter.com/PsP1Z1Rhxy
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 15, 2019
He was replaced by second-year quarterback Mason Rudolph, who nearly passed the team to victory. He finished 12-of-19 for 112 yards with two touchdowns and a pick.
“I like some of the things he (Rudolph) displayed,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. “His communication, his grit. But we gotta find a way to win a football game. We weren’t able to do that today.”
The bonus for Pittsburgh, at least, is according to Tomlin, there was no change to the game plan once Rudolph took the field. That benefit is likely how Rudolph beat out former No. 2 quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who the team traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
Inside the Steelers’ locker room players obviously concerned about the health of Ben Roethlisberger.
One player told me that the team actually was aware that the QB was dealing with some elbow inflammation all week at practice. #Steelers— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) September 15, 2019
Though they still lost, the Steelers have to feel good about what they saw from Rudolph. He was a third-round pick out of Auburn in the 2018 NFL Draft, but before his senior season he was talked up as a possible first rounder.
“Mason is capable,” Tomlin said. “He’s been a part of this thing. He’s the back up quarterback. We’re capable of functioning in a very normal manner when he’s in there.”
Mason Rudolph passer rating in his 1st NFL game: 92.4
Mason Rudolph passer rating in his 1st NFL game, modified if Moncrief holds onto his 1st pass: 122.0
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 15, 2019
Rudolph impressed his teammates with his performance as well.
“He (Rudolph) handled himself really well,” guard David DeCastro said. “Really proud of him, how he came in ready to go. He knew the playbook, had a big command and he mixed some of the cadences, too. That was impressive.”
James Conner’s knee will be evaluated Monday too. He left the Seahawks game limping, after rushing for 33 yards on 11 carries.
And now #Steelers RB James Conner has limped off. Appeared to be holding left knee as he spoke with medical personnel. Now walked under his own power to the medical tent.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 15, 2019
If Conner is out, 2018 fifth round pick Jaylen Samuels out of North Carolina State will likely get the nod.
H/T: CBS Sports, ESPN
