Ben Roethlisberger sore, but elbow fine on heels of season opener for Steelers

After playing all 64 snaps Monday night, getting sacked twice, hit five times and attempting 32 passes, Ben Roethlisberger offered some good and bad news following his first start for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a calendar year.

The good?

His right elbow, surgically repaired 12 months ago, was no worse for wear after a day of rest following the Steelers’ 26-16 victory at the New York Giants in the season opener.

The bad?

“I feel like I was in a car accident,” Roethlisberger said Wednesday morning on a video conference call with reporters. “Yesterday, I felt like I was in a train wreck. Hopefully tomorrow, it just feels like I fell off a bike or something. I’m definitely sore.”

Like the rest of his teammates, Roethlisberger didn’t have a four-game preseason in which to ease into meaningful competition. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, NFL teams went directly from training camp into the regular season.

Roethlisberger also happens to be 38 years old, so any NFL game is going to bring an assortment of bumps and bruises, whether it’s following a one-week or 52-week layoff.

Against the Giants, Roethlisberger completed 21 of 32 passes for 229 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His 117.8 passer rating made him the seventh-most efficient quarterback in the NFL in Week 1.

Dealing with nerves from not playing since the second week of the 2019 season, Roethlisberger’s initial throws were off target. He completed 4 of 7 passes for 47 yards in the first quarter and didn’t find his rhythm until directing a 78-yard touchdown drive inside the final two minutes of the half. He completed 9 of 11 passes in the second half as the Steelers built a 16-point lead.

“Maybe I got up in the pocket a little too quick or I didn’t have the same feel in the pocket early on that I’m probably used to having,” Roethlisberger said. “I think that just comes with not getting hit even in practice. Yeah, you have a pocket and you step up, but defenders aren’t hitting you in practice. You kind of lose some of that feeling of where you can slide to, where you can step to.

“I think that will come back as the more reps and the more games you get into.”

Those reps didn’t take place in practice Wednesday, the first day of on-field preparation for the Steelers’ home opener Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Roethlisberger typically is off or has a light day on Wednesdays. With one fewer day of rest this week because of the “Monday Night Football” opener, Roethlisberger was given Wednesday off per a coach’s decision.

Roethlisberger was among 10 players who didn’t practice. Center Maurkice Pouncey was given his customary day off, and four players not listed on the postgame injury report did not participate: wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Diontae Johnson (toe), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (Achilles) and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva (illness).

Given injuries suffered in the Giants game to tackle Zach Banner (knee) and guard Stefen Wisniewski (chest) and with All-Pro guard David DeCastro (knee) continuing to sit out after missing the opener, the Steelers had just one starter available for practice: left guard Matt Feiler, who has changed positions since last year.

Banner was placed on injured reserve and is scheduled to have surgery Friday to repair a torn ACL, and Chuks Okorafor will start in his place against the Broncos. Former Steelers fourth-round pick Jerald Hawkins was signed off the Houston Texans practice squad to take Banner’s spot on the 53-man roster. The Steelers also listed guard/tackle Derwin Gray, a former seventh-round pick, as one of four protected players on the practice squad.

“Injuries always concern you,” Roethlisberger said, “especially when it is the guys who are protecting you.”

Although Roethlisberger isn’t sure who will be protecting him – or even be included on the active roster – on Sunday, he is looking forward to playing his first home game since his injury. Even if there will be no fans in attendance at Heinz Field to embrace his return.

“When I got hurt and knowing I was going to come back, one of those things I was most excited about was running out of the tunnel at Heinz Field in front of our fans,” he said. “To not have that this time is going to be, I’m going to be a little disappointed. I know they will be there when it’s time.”