Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger proved his doubters wrong by having a resurgence last season.
He played 15 games in 2020 and finished with 399 completions for 3,803 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Unfortunately, they lost to the Cleveland Browns at home during the Wild Card round.
After that game, there was plenty of speculation that he would retire.
Those rumors intensified when center Maurkice Pouncey announced his retirement in February because they hoped to retire simultaneously.
Mike and Maurkice Pouncey announce their retirement after a decade in the league. 👏 pic.twitter.com/jfNnbc2qWk
— theScore (@theScore) February 12, 2021
However, Roethlisberger signed a renegotiated contract to play in 2021.
But his best days are behind him four games into the season.
The abilities that made him a menace to opposing defenses are not there anymore.
He is slow when scrambling and looks heavy when trying to move out of the pocket.
Roethlisberger can still throw the ball but without the same velocity as in years past.
🏈🏈SUNDAY NIGHT NFL🏈🏈
Ben Roethlisberger gets the Steelers off to a perfect start against the Packers, a game in which Pittsburgh need to bounce back…
That’s a 400th career touchdown pass for Roethlisberger 👏👏#PITvsGB #HereWeGo #GoPackGo #NFL pic.twitter.com/JMeaCCiSQ2
— Geoff Banks Online (@BetGeoffBanks) October 3, 2021
Perhaps the pectoral injury he suffered in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders is still bothering him.
Possibly, the accumulation of injuries throughout his 18-year career finally took its toll.
In 2019, he only played two games because of an elbow injury that required surgery.
Given that the elbow is part of a quarterback’s throwing motion, you can say that the clock started to tick by then.
#BlakeingNews for September 16, 2019: Ben Roethlisberger suffers season-ending injury, Jack Sparrow lost at sea, magpies, Titans catch fire, and mommy wine culture pic.twitter.com/9f4aOvnJBs
— Blake Wexler (@BlakeWexler) September 16, 2019
In August 2020, he also admitted that he played through elbow pain for 13 or 14 years.
He also injured both of his knees in their Week 9 win over the Dallas Cowboys last season.
Roethlisberger has nursed injuries on his feet, ribs, shoulders, thumb, and fingers throughout his career.
Still, he kept on leading the Steelers in every game unless the doctors ruled him otherwise.
Sadly, he is not the same quarterback anymore.
The Clock Strikes Midnight For Big Ben
Roethlisberger didn’t have to do much lifting during their opening weekend victory over the Buffalo Bills.
He finished with 18 completions for 188 yards and a touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson.
In Week 2, he had 27 passes for 295 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
However, that was nowhere near Derek Carr’s 382 yards and two touchdowns as the Raiders defeated the Steelers.
A week later, Big Ben finished with more passing yards than Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow.
Browns, Bengals and Ravens fans watching Ben Roethlisberger look washed up. pic.twitter.com/32nERnusLI
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 26, 2021
Despite that advantage, the Steelers still lost because of Burrow’s three touchdown passes, while Joe Mixon outplayed Najee Harris.
The Steelers suffered three straight losses after failing against the Green Bay Packers, 27-17.
Roethlisberger did have an impressive 45-yard throw to Johnson for his 400th career touchdown.
Other than that, the old Roethlisberger – not the Roethlisberger of old – came out.
He had several throws that went short, and he threw behind the line of scrimmage on a couple of fourth-down possessions.
Today isn't on the offensive line. It's on Ben Roethlisberger. It pains me to say it. But it's the truth.
— SteelerNation (@SteeIerNation) October 3, 2021
In one of those instances, Pittsburgh faced fourth-and-nine at Green Bay’s 42-yard line after a penalty.
The Steelers punted instead of going for the play.
Sadly, the inevitable is starting to unfold for Roethlisberger.
It’s turning out to be an ugly season for the 39-year-old quarterback.
Worse, head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that he’s dealing with a hip injury.
Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger has a hip injury.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) October 5, 2021
That’s two injuries in four weeks for the 2004 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
As frustrating as this season will look, may it not take away from what he has contributed to the team.
Two Super Bowls and seven Pro Bowl selections are no fluke.
Therefore, his journey that started in Lima, Ohio, will end up in Canton.
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