If you want to determine who the better team is in the AFC between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, Week 7 may not be the best time to pass judgment.
The Steelers officially announced on Tuesday that Ben Roethlisberger will not play against the Pats. Head coach Mike Tomlin would not give a timeline for the quarterback’s recovery, only noting that Roethlisberger will be back as soon as he can be.
Tomlin on Ben: "When he is healthy, he'll be back with us."
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 18, 2016
Roethlisberger underwent surgery to repair his torn meniscus on Monday, but the procedure was not as serious as it sounds. With any luck, he could return after the Steelers’ bye in Week 8.
One report from earlier in the week indicated that there is a scenario in which Big Ben could miss a significant amount of time, but we’d be surprised if that happens based on his history of playing through injuries.
