Monday 16 September 2019 22:38, UK
The Pittsburgh Steelers have ruled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out for the rest of the season after confirming he needs surgery on his injured right elbow.
Roethlisberger, 37, sustained the injury while attempting a pass in the second quarter of Sunday's 28-26 defeat at home to the Seattle Seahawks.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said: "Ben Roethlisberger had an MRI on his right elbow Sunday evening and it was determined by the Steelers' medical team that surgery will be required.
"We expect the surgery will be scheduled for this week. He will be placed on our Reserve/Injured List and is out for the season."
Roethlisberger, who led the NFL in passing last season, signed an extension in March that runs through 2021, and he intends to return next season to honour that contract.
"I've been informed that I need season-ending surgery on my elbow to continue playing football at the level I expect," Roethlisberger said in a statement.
"This is shocking and heart-breaking for me, to miss this much of a season and feel like I am letting down so many people.
"I can only trust God's plan, but I am completely determined to battle through this challenge and come back stronger than ever next season.
"The Steelers committed three years to me this offseason and I fully intend to honour my contract and reward them with championship-level play.
"I will do all I can to support Mason and the team this season to help win games. I love this game, my team-mates, the Steelers organisation and fans, and I feel in my heart I have a lot left to give."
Mason Rudolph, a third-round pick in the 2018 draft, entered the game with Roethlisberger hurt and completed 12 of 19 passes for 112 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Rudolph becomes the starter for the Steelers, who are 0-2 to start the season for only the second time in Roethlisberger's 16-year career.
"It's crazy, losing the leader of our team," said Rudolph in the locker room on Monday afternoon. "It's a crazy turn of events. I am excited to step up. That's what back-ups do.
"It's a sucky circumstance with our leader and a good friend going down. He would want me to step up and lead to the best of my ability and that is what I have always believed in, that is what I am going to do.
"He is a legend. He is a future Hall of Famer. An unbelievable player. I truly learned something every week from him. He is a great player and I am going to continue to lean on him, meet with him as much as I can during the week."
Tight end Vance McDonald, who caught two touchdown passes from Rudolph, was one of a number of Steelers players who praised the back-up quarterback after Sunday's game.
"Mason did a really, really, really good job today," McDonald said.
Rudolph's interception came on a perfectly-thrown pass to wide receiver Donte Moncrief, who let the ball slip through his hands before being picked off by Bradley McDougald.
Guard David DeCastro added: "[Rudolph] handled himself really well. Really proud of him, how he came in ready to go. He knew the playbook, had a big command, and he mixed some of the cadences, too. That was impressive."
Rudolph will now prepare to face the San Francisco 49ers, who are 2-0 after beating Tampa Bay and Cincinnati on the road in their opening two games.
"Mason is capable," Tomlin said. "He's been a part of this thing. He's the back-up quarterback. We are capable of functioning in a very normal manner when he is in there."
"Mason is capable. He's been a part of this thing. He's the back-up quarterback. We are capable of functioning in a very normal manner when he is in there."
The Steelers promoted rookie quarterback Devlin Hodges from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Monday to back up Rudolph.
Hodges, a rookie from Samford, originally signed with the Steelers as a rookie free agent after making an impression in rookie minicamp as a try-out player.
Pittsburgh traded Joshua Dobbs to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week for a 2020 fifth-round pick, after their starter Nick Foles suffered a broken collarbone in Week 1. Dobbs, a 2017 fourth-round pick, had been No 3 on the Steelers depth chart behind Roethlisberger and Rudolph.
Starting running back James Conner was also injured against Seattle and is scheduled for more tests on his knee on Monday.
