The Pittsburgh Steelers have already ruled out starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for their Week 7 game against the Patriots.
Mike Tomlin confirmed Tuesday that Roethlisberger would miss the game.
"When he is healthy, he'll be back with us," Tomlin said of Roethlisberger.
The Steelers quarterback underwent surgery on his meniscus Monday after sustaining a knee injury Sunday in Pittsburgh's loss at Miami.
INJURY UPDATE
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 18, 2016
Out: Ben, Heyward, Wallace
Practice participation will be our guide: Wheaton, Shazier, M. Gilbert, Golden, Mitchell, DeAngelo
The timing for this injury obviously isn't ideal. (When is a knee injury ideal?) Roethlisberger couldn't help the Steelers try to come back against the Dolphins on Sunday and now the Steelers have to try and beat the top team in the AFC without their most important player.
The good news for Pittsburgh is they have a bye in Week 8, so it's possible Roethlisberger ultimately misses only one game.
The Steelers called the surgery successful (When isn't a surgery successful in the NFL?) and if it was only a trim of the meniscus, he could be back on the field fairly quickly.
Losing him for the Patriots game is a nightmare, but ensuring Roethlisberger is healthy for the stretch run is the No. 1 priority for Pittsburgh.
Landry Jones will fill in for Roethlisberger at quarterback.
