The absolute worst nightmare for any NFL team is a quarterback suffering an injury in practice. But a Super Bowl contender having its aging star quarterback suffer a concussion in the middle of a training camp practice? That's a totally different circle of hell that the Steelers might be dealing with.
According to Mike Tomlin, through the team, Roethlisberger is being "evaluated as part of the concussion protocol" after taking a hit during practice.
Coach Tomlin on #Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger: “Ben Roethlisberger sustained a hit today in practice. He is being evaluated by team doctors as part of the concussion protocol.”
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) August 14, 2018
The immediate reaction here is: HOW??? How does Ben Roethlisberger, a future Hall of Fame quarterback who is probably wearing a red jersey in all of these practices, take a hit that would leave him concussed in the middle of training camp practice?
According to reports -- and photographs -- from on the scene, Roethlisberger took a big hit, had his head bounce off the ground and ended up laying on the field holding his head.
Scary moment in Steelers practice during 7 shots. Ben Roethlisberger goes down after throwing a pass. Stays down for a few minutes as entire team gathers around. Not hit. Seems to be ok
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) August 14, 2018
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger holds his head after getting knocked to the turf during afternoon practice. pic.twitter.com/YOVQc6Ift9
— Peter Diana (@peterdianapghpg) August 14, 2018
Roethlisberger later walked off the field on his own power, with his head down.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leaves practice after going down during afternoon workouts Tuesday at Latrobe Memorial Stadium in Latrobe. #Steelernation pic.twitter.com/qoGeYXeDNk
— Peter Diana (@peterdianapghpg) August 14, 2018
The real dagger here is there was significant buzz coming out of Pittsburgh that this was Roethlisberger's "best training camp" ever. The Steelers are very much in a make/break season, knowing good and well this is the final year, in all likelihood, that they have Ben, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell all together.
It's not all bad news, as Big Ben told teammate Maurkice Pouncey "he was fine," although Pouncey noted he saw Roethlisberger's head whip back.
Ben Roethlisberger told teammate Maurkice Pouncey that “he was good, he was fine.” Marcus Gilbert was blocking and saw Roethlisberger’s head “whip back.”
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 14, 2018
Losing their starting quarterback to a concussion for any length of time would be a really big problem. Losing Ben to a concussion that he unnecessarily suffered in training camp.
Do not expect to see Roethlisberger on the field Thursday against the Packers, which was probably the plan anyway.
