Steelers Colbert: Roethlisberger Could Return 'Better Than Ever'

INDIANAPOLIS, IN- Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert believes aging quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could not only make a full recovery from his season-ending elbow surgery but also be a better player in 2020 because of the extended layoff from football.

"He sat for a year. He didn't have wear and tear on his body," Colbert told reporters at a news conference at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. "Sure he had significant surgery, but we're optimistic he might be better."

Colbert said the Steelers would like to have Roethlisberger return for the first week of the NFL season.

Roethlisberger, who turns 38 next week, suffered the injury in the second game of the season. One of a trio of celebrated quarterbacks taken in the 2004 draft, he is the only one remaining with the team that drafted him; the New York Giants' Eli Manning retired and Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers parted ways after the 2019 season.

In another matter, Colbert would not definitively say whether the team will place the franchise tag on Bud Dupree, whose contract is expiring. But Colbert did say he'd like to see the lineback, who had a breakout season in 2019, "be a Steeler for life."

You can view the entire news conference below.