Ben Roethlisberger remains the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. That much general manager Kevin Colbert could confirm Wednesday.

The question he couldn’t answer, however, was whether Roethlisberger will remain in that role in a month.

Colbert was non-committal when asked about Roethlisberger and his future with the organization. He indicated the Steelers are no closer to resolving the issue than when their season ended last month in the first round of the AFC playoffs.

“He reiterated to us that he wants to continue to play,” Colbert said during a video conference call with reporters. “We told him, quite frankly, that we have to look at the current situation.”

Roethlisberger turns 39 in two weeks, has a $41 million salary-cap hit that team president Art Rooney II said must be reduced, and he presided over an offense that became predictable in the final month of the season as the Steelers lost five of their final six games, including playoffs.

Roethlisberger met with Rooney, Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin after the season. A second meeting to apparently resolve the salary-cap dilemma hasn’t transpired, Colbert said.

“We are not negotiating as we sit here answering this question,” Colbert said. “Ben Roethlisberger is on the team. Ben Roethlisberger did a lot of really good things last year. We anticipate that he could still do some good things moving forward.

“Hopefully there is a way we can try to figure that out and do what is best for the organization and do what is best for Ben. Hopefully he’ll be able to see that and feel the same way that we do. There is a lot of work that needs to be done.”

Roethlisberger will count $22 million in dead money against the 2021 salary cap in the event he retires or the Steelers release him. He is owed $19 million next season, including a $15 million roster bonus that is payable March 19, the third day of the NFL calendar year.

The Steelers must be compliant with the salary cap on March 17. The salary cap will be no lower than $175 million, but it has been projected to be closer to $185 million, which would be a $13 million reduction from 2020. The Steelers already are an estimated $14 million above the salary cap with Roethlisberger under contract.

“When we met previously, we all agreed we would get together at some point — once we get further down the road and have a better understanding of what free agency is, what the cap might be,” Colbert said. “All of that comes together collectively and we have a better idea of what the team will be in 2021 and how he can be a part of that and make that group as good as it can be. It’s an ongoing process. It just doesn’t involve him, but it involves the players around him.

“I’m sure he is going to want to see what type of team we can keep together under our current situations.”

Tight end Vance McDonald and center Maurkice Pouncey — two of Roethlisberger’s closest teammates — already have retired, and the Steelers didn’t renew the contract of offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, another Roethlisberger confidant.

The Steelers also could lose wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to free agency and are trying to rebuild an offensive line and running back group after finishing last in the NFL in rushing.

“We have to be compliant (with the cap), then we’ll make guesstimates to what we can do to put the best team together,” Colbert said. “For our sake, for Ben’s sake. What kind of team can he anticipate being around him if we decide we can move forward together?”

Colbert spoke glowingly of Roethlisberger’s return from right elbow surgery that cost him all but two games of the 2019 season. In helping the Steelers craft an 11-0 record, Roethlisberger threw 25 touchdown passes against six interceptions and was in the league MVP discussion. Down the stretch, including the 48-37 loss to Cleveland in the wild-card round, he threw 12 touchdown passes and was intercepted eight times.

“Can he still do some special things? Absolutely,” Colbert said. “Did he do it to his expectations? I think he’d be the first to tell you no. Ben cares about one thing. He cares about winning the Super Bowl. He’s no different than us. When it doesn’t happen, he’s never going to be satisfied.”

If Roethlisberger doesn’t return, Mason Rudolph would have the first crack at the starting job as he enters his fourth season. In Rudolph’s only start, against Cleveland in the regular-season finale while Roethlisberger rested, he completed 22 of 39 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

“That was encouraging for us,” Colbert said. “Hopefully, we get to see Mason take more steps in whatever role he has or whatever playing time he gets.”

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