Roethlisberger has concussion, wants to play this week
PITTSBURGH – Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wants to play this week against the Indianapolis Colts, but he must pass the NFL-mandated concussion protocol first.
Speaking on his weekly call-in segment on KDKA-FM 93.7, Roethlisberger had just taken his imPACT test to determine whether or not he had suffered a concussion near the end of last Sunday’s 39-30 loss at Seattle. Roethlisberger said he felt fine and that he expected to play when the Steelers (6-5) host the Colts (6-5).
The test results, however, showed that Roethlisberger will first have to pass league-mandated concussion protocol before that happens. Linebacker Ryan Shazier must also pass the protocol.
“Ben experienced what is now being described as a concussion,” Tomlin said. “He’ll be in concussion protocol. We’ll be very diligent about their care.
“Even if they feel better, they’re going to remain in the protocol. We’re going to do our due diligence under the guidelines that have been prescribed in recent years.”
Roethlisberger suffered the injury when he was struck on a helmet-to-helmet hit by Seattle defensive lineman Michael Bennett late in the fourth quarter, drawing a personal foul penalty.
Despite the hit, he remained in the game for nine more plays, leading the Steelers to a field goal that cut Seattle’s lead to 32-30. After he went to the sideline, he told team doctors he was having vision issues and they immediately pulled him from the game until they could determine if he had suffered a concussion.
The NFL and NFLPA announced they will look into why the independent spotter at the game – a medical professional who views the game from the press box – did not stop the game or raise concerns about the hit and have Roethlisberger checked immediately.
“Ben self-reported his. He self-reported it after the series that he finished,” said Tomlin. “When he self-reported it, we took care of him in an appropriate manner. Ryan Shazier didn’t have to self-report his. The medical staff saw it. I saw it.”
Roethlisberger, who has missed four games and parts of three others this season with knee and ankle injuries, said he had no issue reporting that he had blurred vision.
“I’ll play through any injury but brain,” Roethlisberger said. “I feel like I made the right (decision).
“I think more guys should do it.”
Roethlisberger was initially diagnosed with an ocular migraine headache, which could have accounted for the blurred vision, but the imPACT test measures a player’s baseline cognitive skills at an earlier date to give physicians something against which to measure after he has suffered a blow to the head.
That was the test that Roethlisberger failed to pass Tuesday, despite feeling relatively normal.
Now, he’ll have to pass further tests the rest of this week before he is cleared to play against the Colts. If he does not pass the test, he will not play.
“I anticipate I’ll be good to go on Sunday,” Roethlisberger said.
That, however, remains to be determined. Roethlibserger suffered a concussion in 2009 prior to a game against Baltimore and it appeared all week leading up to the game.
Friday of that week, he experienced delayed symptoms and was scratched from the game.
Teammate Hines Ward was disappointed that Roethlisberger did not play in the loss after practicing all week.
“It’s tough,” Ward said after the game, noting that the locker room was split 50-50 as to whether Roethlisberger should have played. “You don’t want to jeopardize your future. It’s a tossup. You either play and jeopardize your future, or you sit out and worry about the big picture.”
When the NFL put its current concussion protocol in place in 2013, it took that decision out of the hands of the players.
“We’ll lean on our medical staff. They always do a great job. We’ll do what is appropriate at the end of the week,” said Tomlin.