Ben Roethlisberger Has Torn Meniscus In Left Knee

The Pittsburgh Steelers will miss their starting quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, for Week 7 against the New England Patriots.

Ben Roethlisberger Has Torn Meniscus In Left Knee

Roethlisberger will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via a source familiar with the situation. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the news of the QB’s injury, which coach Mike Tomlin confirmed via a statement. Tomlin added no timetable has been set for the veteran quarterback’s return, but the Steelers are confident the injury is not long-term.

Houston-based orthopedic surgeon Michael George told USA TODAY Sports that the surgeon may not know the full extent of damage and what course of action until the arthroscopic procedure in underway.

Roethlisberger, 34, played through pain during the second half of Sunday’s 30-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins after missing part of the second quarter with the injury. According to NFL Media’s Aditi Kinkhabwala, the quarterback said he “felt something funny” in his knee after the game.

After hosing the Patriots on Sunday, the Steelers (4-2, 1st in AFC North) have a bye in Week 8 and then travel to Baltimore for a divisional matchup against the Ravens in Week 9.

Unlike New England, who survived Tom Brady’s four-game suspension to start the season with recent high draft picks Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett, the Steelers currently don’t have any potential backup quarterbacks.

Roethlisberger has an NFL-high 16 touchdown passes.

Landry Jones entered Sunday’s game after the QB headed to the locker room, and would likely be the replacement starter.

Jones managed a 58.2 completion rate and 77.3 passer rating on 55 attempts as Roethlisberger’s stand-in last season. Jones came off the bench in Week 6 last year to help Pittsburgh beat Arizona, thanks mainly to an 88-yard, catch-and-run TD from the now-suspended Martavis Bryant.

Judging from what the Steelers have done in preseason and regular-season action over the past few years, coordinator Todd Haley will likely scale back the offense for Jones, choosing to construct game plans around the backfield duo of Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams. 

Since the beginning of the 2015 season, Pittsburgh has averaged 27.5 points, 405.4 total yards, 308.1 passing yards and 97.3 rushing yards per game with Roethlisberger as play-caller. Without Roethlisberger, those numbers fall to 20.5 points, 315.3 total yards, 162.8 passing yards and 152.5 rushing yards, per NFL Research.

Roethlisberger is an MVP candidate, and one of the best offensive players in the league.

PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 02: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers hands off to Le’Veon Bell #26 in the second half during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Heinz Field on October 2, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)