Steelers' Roethlisberger Could Face Elbow Surgery

PITTSBURGH, PA - Doctors will determine today whether Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will need surgery on his injured elbow. ESPN reported Mondy that Roethlisberger hopes to avoid surgery, which could keep him out of the lineup indefinitely, but that doctors ultimately will decide if it's necessary.

Roethlisberger left the game in the second quarter of the Steelers' 28-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. After grimacing in obvious discomfort several times after releasing passes before leaving the game, he watched the second half from the sideline in a baseball cap.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin provided no details on the 37-year-old quarterback's condition after the game, saying only that Roethlisberger was being evaluated.

Former pro football doctor David Chao stated on his website ProFootballDoc that Roethlisberger may have suffered an ulnar collateral ligament injury similar to the one that forced Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen to miss three games last season.

But Chao said if the ligament is torn, it could mean Roethlisberger has to undergo Tommy John surgery that many baseball pitchers have had. If that's the case, Roethlisberger would miss at least the rest of this season and possibly the 2020 season as well.

Chao called that possibility a worst-case scenario.

The Steelers fell to 0-2 on the season with Sunday's loss. They travel to San Francisco next week to play the 49ers.