Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has had quite the experience dealing with COVID-19 protocols over the past few weeks. The 39-year-old barely got out of the league's mandated 10-day quarantine after the Steelers star was out on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list a few weeks ago before finally suiting for their Week 11 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
As part of the league's health and safety protocol, any player who is on a team's reserve list must return two negative COVID-19 tests before being cleared to play. Big Ben, though, only got his second negative test on Saturday, just a day before he had to dress up and travel to LA to take on the Chargers which meant that he did not have any time to practice with the squad prior to game day.
“It’s tough not getting practice perspectives, watching practice from behind [the huddle]. I know I don’t always participate in practice, but at least you’re there and you can see it firsthand,” Roethlisberger said (via Brian Batko of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, h/t to NBC Sports). “It’s different watching it on film at night. It’s definitely a different process. But we got through it,”
Despite being sidelined for more than a week, Roethlisberger didn't show any sign of rust in Week 11. He passed for 273 yards and had three touchdowns with no sacks or interceptions. Unfortunately, his team fell short as the home squad came up clutch down the stretch to grab a 41-37 win.
Roethlisberger and the team now have a full week to prepare for another road game coming up in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals.