Steelers Mike Tomlin confident Ben Roethlisberger will return for 2020 season
As quarterback Ben Roethlisberger awaits season-ending right elbow surgery, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has decided to wait until after the procedure before detailing the exact injury that has sidelined the 37-year-old indefinitely.
NFL Network reported Tuesday that Roethlisberger does not need Tommy John surgery, which involves repairing the ulnar collateral ligament and could have threatened his availability for 2020.
“I try to avoid getting into specifics in this forum,” Tomlin said at his weekly news conference. “A lot of those things will be confirmed when he gets that surgery. I’ll wait for that until I get into specific details about what they found and the prognosis in terms of the recovery.”
Tomlin didn’t know when Roethlisberger would have the surgery, saying details are being “hardened up.”
Like Roethlisberger, Tomlin expects his star quarterback to return for a 17th NFL season.
“He fully intends to come back from this injury and from everything we’ve heard, we’re comfortable that it is a strong possibility,” he said.
The Steelers placed free safety Sean Davis on injured reserve Tuesday, meaning he will miss at least the next eight weeks. Tomlin said that was a “significant” factor in the Steelers trading a 2020 first-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 draft.
Fitzpatrick played nearly a half-dozen positions in the Dolphins defense during his 18-game stay in Miami. Tomlin said Fitzpatrick will “anchor” at free safety while he learns the defensive scheme.
In other injury news, Tomlin ruled out fullback Roosevelt Nix with a knee injury. Questionable to play Sunday in San Francisco are running back James Conner (knee), inside linebacker Vince Williams (hamstring), outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo (foot) and cornerback Joe Haden (shoulder).
Tomlin said Steelers must "strike a delicate balance" about getting Rudolph sufficient reps while getting Hodges up to speed as a backup.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin said Steelers will try to operate on East Coast time when they travel to San Francisco.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Asked about Colin Kaepernick, Tomlin said he would not talk about free agents not on his roster.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
"I don't think we need to send a message" that Fitzpatrick trade signifies to locker room that the season is not over.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
"I don't think we need to send a message" that Fitzpatrick trade signifies to locker room that the season is not over.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin said it may be an "unintended consequence" of James Washington getting more playing time with Rudolph under center.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin said he was not aware of any prior injury to Roethlisberger that was "of significance."
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin doesn't expect defense to be altered because of Minkah Fitzpatrick's late addition to the team.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin said he went to Alabama twice to scout Fitzpatrick prior to the 2018 draft.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
On trading a first-round pick, it's "overall level of comfort with the player."
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin on trade: Sean's injury was a "significant" component of it, certainly.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin doesn't want to get into specifics of Roethlisberger's surgery. He doesn't have a firm date for the surgery, saying it's being "hardened up."
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Onto the 49ers for Tomlin. He calls George Kittle a "special" tight end.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin said "level of expectations" have not changed in wake of all the injuries.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
"We feel comfortable with the team we have assembled." Tomlin says.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Injuries: Roosevelt Nix is out; Questionable are Vince Williams (hamstring), Anthony Chickillo (foot), James Conner (Knee), Joe Haden (Shoulder)
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin called Fitzpatrick "a sharp guy" because of his ability to play as many as six positions with Dolphins. Said Steelers will keep him at safety exclusively for the short term.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin said Fitzpatrick will be playing safety against the 49ers on Sunday.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin on Minkah: "We studied him really closely in process leading up to the draft." Said it was no secret Steelers wanted a safety, which is why they got Terrell Edmunds that year.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
On Rudolph: "He'll have an opportunity to show you the steps we expect him to make."
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin said the Steelers hope that Mason Rudolph "meets the standards of expectations."
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin wants to "infuse" Paxton Lynch into the "culture" and signed him because he had practice squad eligiblity
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin on QB position/Hodges: "He knows the ins and outs of what is going on. He was our best short-term option."
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Tomlin on QB position/Hodges: "He knows the ins and outs of what is going on. He was our best short-term option."
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Should be a lively Mike Tomlin press conference in a few minutes. Lots of news to digest.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Steelers have placed safety Sean Davis on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and have signed QB Paxton Lynch to the practice squad. The Davis move clears the way for Minkah Fitzpatrick to be added to the 53-man roster
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 17, 2019
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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