More bad news for Big Ben & Steelers fans! Ben Roethlisberger’s sprained right shoulder is just the start of his problems.
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback said Wednesday he also dislocated a rib while getting sacked in the third quarter of Monday night’s win against Kansas City. Roethlisberger sprained the SC joint in his shoulder on the play but says the rib issue is a bigger concern.
Roethlisberger said doctors are concerned that the rib could cut into his aorta. He’s already been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Backup Byron Leftwich will start in his place, though Roethlisberger doesn’t believe the injuries will end his season.
“I don’t think so, I don’t know, though, but I’m not a medical expert,” Roethlisberger said. “I just know I’m going to do what I can to get back.”
Roethlisberger added that he’s in considerable pain and has slept just four hours over the last two nights. He wore a black sling in the locker room to prevent the rib from moving around. Doctors are worried if the rib gets jostled before it heals it can cause internal bleeding.
“I can move (the arm) around, that’s not the issue,” Roethlisberger said. “Sometimes when I do move it the rib will kind of pop out of place again, which is pretty painful. I just try to keep it as still as I can for the most part.”
The quarterback added the pain level is “nine on a scale of 1-10.”
