Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger Could Be Back For Week 9’s Game Against Ravens

Jason La Canfora, citing numerous team sources, reports that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is expected to be back sooner than the initial 4-6 week timetable tossed out after he underwent surgery for a meniscus injury.

According to La Canfora, Steelers officials are optimistic that Roethlisberger could be back in time for their Week 9 game against the Ravens. In fact, La Canfora’s sources would be surprised if he missed more than two games, barring some kind of setback to his knee injury.

As of now, La Canfora says that Pittsburgh has no plans to work out quarterbacks or attempt to acquire a veteran, which means it will be Landry Jones for the time being. Although, should Jones struggle, a source told La Canfora that Zach Mettenberger could get an opportunity.

Steelers president and co-owner Art Rooney II told Ian Rapoport on Wednesday that Roethlisberger’s rehab could cost him anywhere between two to six weeks.

“I think that two to three is what you can characterize as best-case, but that’s what we’re hoping for,” Rooney said. “Two to six is probably a fair range that somebody can put on it.”

Roethlisberger, 34, is in the second year of his five-year, $99 million contract that includes $64 million guaranteed. He stands to make a base salary of $17.75 million for the 2016 season.

In 2016, Roethlisberger had completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 1,685 yards to go along with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 21 quarterback out of 35 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Roethlisberger’s return as the news is available.