The Steelers have placed the entire weight of their 2020 ambitions on Ben Roethlisberger's surgically repaired elbow, and coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday he expects it can hold up under all that stress.
"He's doing great thus far. He's in great physical condition. Rehabilitation, in regards to the injury itself, is going well. I hear nothing but positive reports from that standpoint," Tomlin told fans on the Steelers Nation Unite Huddle call. "There have been no bumps in the road."
Roethlisberger missed the final 14 games of the 2019 season after injuring his right elbow. He had surgery Sept. 23 and was cleared to begin throwing footballs in mid-February.
"The fact that his injury and subsequent surgery happened so early in the season in 2019 is probably an asset to him and us as we push into 2020," Tomlin said. "I think everybody's comfortable with where things are. We're excited about him and what he's going to do for us this year."
Roethlisberger led the NFL in passing yards in his last full season, 2018, but that team finished 9-6-1 and missed the playoffs. Without him, but with an improved defense, the Steelers used Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges at quarterback, went 8-8 and missed again in 2019. They also signed former Broncos first-round pick Paxton Lynch to their practice squad, and he remains with the club.
The Steelers have thus far chosen not to add another quarterback, someone with more experience, as a backup to Roethlisberger. Tomlin did not totally rule out that possibility, though.
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