Already in tough shape after starting at 0-2, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season was dealt a death blow on Monday when head coach Mike Tomlin announced Ben Roethlisberger would be undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is out for the year, per coach Mike Tomlin. Obviously a massive blow for the team. pic.twitter.com/qDQxngDhXU
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 16, 2019
Roethlisberger sustained the injury to his throwing arm during yesterday’s 28-26 loss to the visiting Seattle Seahawks. He was replaced by backup Mason Rudolph, who threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns in the losing effort. With Roethlisberger being placed on injured reserve, 2018 third-round pick Mason Rudolph should serve as the team’s starter for the rest of the season.
Without Roethlisberger in the lineup, the Steelers, who missed the playoffs last season and were going to have a tough time winning their division already, will almost certainly fall out of contention in the AFC playoff race. After the news broke, the odds of Pittsburgh making the Super Bowl fell to +20,000. The only teams with longer odds are the Jets, Bengals, Cardinals, Giants, Redskins and Dolphins.
Though nothing has been said up to this point to suggest it, it certainly seems as if Roethlisberger could opt to retire from the NFL, especially if Pittsburgh accrues a bad enough record to get a top draft pick and selects a quarterback.
Drew Brees is also having surgery and will miss at least six weeks thanks to a thumb injury. Though the situation isn’t quite as dire for Saints as it is for the Steelers, New Orleans will struggle without their 40-year-old quarterback and may have lost their chance at securing a top playoff seed in the NFC.
Two weeks into the "Golden Age of Quarterbacking":
Andrew Luck (retired)
Cam Newton (disconcertingly injured)
Ben Roethlisberger (out for season)
Sam Darnold (mono, out TBD)
Drew Brees (thumb, out TBD)Forgive our sins already, football gods.
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) September 16, 2019
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