Steelers' Art Rooney II on Ben Roethlisberger's progress: 'So far, so good'

Art Rooney II is optimistic about a healthy Ben Roethlisberger returning to form in 2020, and he is hoping the Pittsburgh Steelers will complement their franchise quarterback with a strong running game next season.

The Steelers president addressed Roethlisberger, the running game and other topics during a 20-minute conference call Wednesday with fans.

Roethlisberger, who will turn 38 in March, was limited to six quarters because of an elbow injury that required season-ending surgery. He is scheduled for a medical exam in February that will determine when he can begin a throwing regimen.

“So far, so good as far as Ben’s progress,” Rooney II said. “He’s still early in his rehab situation, but all reports we’re getting have been positive. We’re really looking for him to improve as we work into the spring here.”

Rooney reiterated what he told a handful of media members in January: The Steelers are “comfortable” enough with Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph serving as the backup that they are unlikely to sign a veteran in free agency.

“We’ll be looking for an opportunity if we can add a player that can help us whether it’s a wide receiver or a running back,” Rooney said in response to a question about whether the Steelers will address those skill positions in free agency. “I’m not sure about quarterback. I think we’re pretty comfortable with the people we have on the roster now in terms of Ben and Mason, and I think we’ll have Duck (Hodges) and Paxton Lynch back participating and competing in camp and things like that this year.”

Without Roethlisberger, the Steelers ranked next-to-last in passing offense among the 32 NFL teams and averaged just 186.3 yards. Defenses stacked up to stop the Steelers running game, which didn’t fare much better while missing starter James Conner for several games. The Steelers were ranked No. 29 in rushing offense, averaging 90.4 yards.

Rooney would like to see the Steelers improve in that area.

“We want to be a team that can run the ball effectively and, obviously, be balanced,” he said. “We have a quarterback in Ben who can throw any pass and get the ball all over the field. We think in this day and age, you have to be balanced, and hopefully we can get back to being that in the coming season.”

The Steelers don’t hold a first-round draft choice for the first time since 1967, and Rooney avoided addressing any positions the Steelers will be targeting in the NFL Draft, calling it “early in the process.”

“Truth of the matter is we won’t know who we’re going to pick until the week before the draft and narrow it down,” he said. “It takes that long to compile that information and to get ready.”

Among the other topics about which Rooney received questions:

• He was encouraged with the additions of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Devin Bush to the defense, combined with the play of veterans such as Cameron Heyward and Joe Haden.

“I think it’s a pretty good combination of some young guys and veteran guys that can work together and become a dominant defense. With all the injuries we had, it was our defense that helped us hang in there. Too bad we didn’t get one more win and get into the playoffs.”

• The Steelers will continue to wear uniforms with block numbers as part of their throwback jerseys, and there are no plans to make them part of the regular uniform.

“It’s fun to mix things in.”

• He said the election of Bill Cowher, Donnie Shell and Troy Polamalu hurt Alan Faneca’s chance of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his fifth try.

“Unfortunately, sometimes that happens.”

Rooney called Faneca a “class act” for keeping his dinner reservation Saturday night in which the Steelers honored their members of the Class of 2020.

“We invited Alan, and he and his wife came anyway even though he was disappointed. He knows we support him and Steelers fans support him, and we’re going to stay optimistic that he’ll get in one of these years. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.”