You know the opening game hits differently when even the longest-tenured veterans still get butterflies in their stomachs just by thinking about it. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will make his return on the gridiron on September 14 as they visit the New York Giants in the Big Apple.

The 38-year old gunslinger shared his emotions heading into his 17th season in the league:

“I was driving in (to practice) today and crossed the Veterans Bridge and was thinking to myself, man, I am already nervous for this season,” said the Steelers quarterback. “You always have a little bit of jitters and nervousness for the first game. The way I feel now is more than how I have felt in a long time. I am sure it's going to intensify as the week goes on, then Monday night I am sure I am going to be shaking like a leaf. It's one of those things you get out there and hopefully it all comes back to me really quick.”

The Steelers star also discussed his goal for the upcoming season:

“There is going to be rust, no doubt about it. Hopefully we can get it knocked off sooner rather than later. That is what makes it fun. If I wasn't nervous, if I didn't have that anxiousness, you shouldn't be out there. If there is not a love for the game, if you don't have that. Since I have those nerves already it shows I still love this game, I am still passionate for it. I want to go out and win for the fans, the city.”

The Ohio native was sidelined in the early stages of his 2019 campaign as he sustained a season-ending elbow injury in the Steelers' Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Backup Mason Rudolph along with alternates Devlin Hodges and Paxton Lynch all rotated under center in lieu of his absence.

Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back James Conner both had down years as they were also limited by their respective injuries last season. The young pieces of the Steelers all stepped up and were only a couple of wins away from making the 2019 NFL Playoffs.

With Big Ben back at the helm along with a more complete cast, the more cohesive Steelers will aim to make a shot at the Super Bowl stage in the upcoming season.