NFL PLAYER NEWS

Roethlisberger undergoes knee surgery

The Sports Xchange

October 17, 2016 at 9:38 am.

Oct 16, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;  Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) attempts a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-15. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 16, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) attempts a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-15. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will miss at least one game recovering from left knee surgery, which was scheduled for Monday to repair a torn meniscus.

By the time Sunday’s game ended in Miami, Roethlisberger said his knee was already black and blue, and Pittsburgh began anticipating playing without him for Week 7 and possibly beyond.

Roethlisberger, 34, entered Sunday’s game against the last-place Miami Dolphins averaging 299.2 yards passing per game. The Dolphins played power football and emerged with a 30-15 upset win over Pittsburgh.

The Steelers’ quarterback completed 19 of 34 passes for 189 yards, one touchdown and two costly interceptions.

Worse yet for the Steelers (4-2), Roethlisberger had to leave the game for one series in the second quarter due to an injury to his left knee. He was hurt on a play in which he was intercepted by Dolphins safety Reshad Jones.

“It happened before I threw,” Roethlisberger said. “I felt something funny in my knee.

Landry Jones is likely to start for the Steelers this week. Pittsburgh hosts the New England Patriots at Heinz Field before a bye week, which would essentially give Roethlisberger 16 days between the injury and his next likely practice on Nov. 3.
Jones threw an incomplete pass Sunday on his only attempt against the Dolphins. He started two games last season and had three touchdowns and four interceptions, completing 32 of 55 passes for 513 yards.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked if Roethlisberger’s mobility was affected by the injury.

“I’m sure it was,” said Tomlin, who was in no mood to do much in the way of elaboration.

Asked the same question, Roethlisberger joked: “I’m not that mobile anymore anyway.”

Meanwhile, Roethlisberger seems to be having a bit of a road/home split problem. In the past three years, he is 14-3 at home but just 9-8 on the road.

But it wasn’t just Roethlisberger who was minimized by Miami (2-4) on Sunday.

Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell was held to 53 yards on 10 carries. Antonio Brown, who started the day leading the NFL in receptions, was held to four catches for just 39 yards on eight targets.

“A lot of defenders,” Roethlisberger said when asked why Brown didn’t have a bigger day. “We’ve seen that a lot. We’ve got to get other guys involved.”

One of those “other guys” is wide receiver Sammie Coates, who had a big game last week against the New York Jets but was battling a hand injury.

Coates was held without a catch on four targets by the Dolphins.

Between the injuries and the inspired Dolphins defense, the Steelers had nowhere to go. But was this upset largely a function of those injuries — Roethlisberger’s knee, Coates’ hand?

You won’t hear Roethlisberger making that claim.

“We don’t make excuses,” Roethlisberger said. “We’re all playing through pain.

“They outplayed us today. They were the better team.”