Roethlisberger undergoes elbow surgery
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger should be healthy heading into the 2020 season after undergoing surgery Monday on his right (throwing) elbow, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced.
The operation was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, in consultation with Steelers team doctor Jim Bradley, a former Kerlan Jobe staffer.
No details on the procedure were announced, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that Roethlisberger didn't need Tommy John surgery, which entails ligament replacement.
"Once Ben returns to Pittsburgh, he immediately will begin working with the Steelers' medical staff on his rehabilitation, and he is expected to make a full recovery and return to the field for the 2020 NFL season," the team statement added.
Roethlisberger was hurt during the Steelers' Sept. 15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. In two games this year, he completed 56.5 percent of his passes for 351 yards with no touchdown passes and one interception.
The 16th-year veteran has thrown for 56,545 yards (sixth in NFL history) and 363 touchdown (seventh) while getting picked off 191 times (tied for 31st). He guided the Steelers to Super Bowl titles after the 2005 and 2008 seasons, and he made another Super Bowl appearance after the 2011 season.
With Roethlisberger hurt, the Steelers (0-3) gave second-year quarterback Mason Rudolph his first career start Sunday at San Francisco. Rudolph completed 14 of 27 passes for 174 yards with two TDs and one interception in Pittsburgh's 24-20 loss.
--Field Level Media
