PITTSBURGH (WJAC) — UPDATE: ESPN's Chris Mortensen tweeted Monday evening that the Steelers "are now optimistic Ben Roethlisberger will recover from elbow surgery to reattach three tendons" and "wants and expects to play in 2020 and beyond, per sources."
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ORIGINAL STORY: Has quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played his last game in the National Football League?
As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to struggle at the quarterback position after Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2, that would add the ultimate insult to injury to the team’s season.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen says Roethlisberger’s return to the NFL is not guaranteed, according to Bleacher Report.
Mortenson said on SportsCenter Monday, “I've talked to people who have spoken with him, and he has some doubt whether he's really gonna play football again,” according to Bleacher Report.
That news would contradict several earlier reports that indicated the 37-year-old QB would be set to return next year.
In September, the Steelers said Roethlisberger had successful surgery on his elbow and the team expected him to make a full recovery and return for the 2020 season.
Thursday the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ron Cook reported that he had spoken to Roethlisberger after the Bills game and was told that his rehab was ahead of schedule.
Meanwhile, Mortensen said that if Big Ben isn’t able to return, the Steelers could sign a veteran free agent like Philip Rivers, Eli Manning or Teddy Bridgewater in the offseason.
Backup quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges have given the team mixed results, but the team still has a shot at the playoffs if things go its way the next few weeks.
The Steelers will travel to Baltimore Sunday. Hodges is expected to start with Rudolph out with a shoulder injury.
Kickoff will be at 4:25 p.m.
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