PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he threw about 50 balls all week, all on Friday, due to having to stay home with COVID-19 contract tracing. Ben would then throw nearly that many times against Cincinnati, 46, for 333 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-10 win at Heinz Field.
"Really just felt nice and rested coming into today," Roethlisberger said, adding he also iced it a lot. "Tried to talk Coach into seeing if I could take next week off too."
Roethlisberger was in contact with COVID positive Vance McDonald and had to spend five days away from the team. Roethlisberger joined by Vince Williams, Jerald Hawkins and Jaylen Samuels and all tested negative and dressed for the game against the Bengals Sunday.
Ben said it's really important at this time of year to let the arm rest. He also gave credit to his line and his skill players for making plays.
"Ben's been doing this for a while, going 15 plus years being in the league and doing what Ben does," said receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had nine catches, one for a score. "For him, it's more like backyard football being out there and calling the plays, and as you can see there's series we'll go no-huddle down the field and put points on the board."
"I didn't really talk to Ben during the week," said receiver Diontae Johnson, who had six receptions for 116 yards and a TD. "I texted him and what not to check on him, make sure he's OK like early on in the week, but other than that, I'm sure he was online, virtual, but I didn't really talk to him."
"I was a little nervous coming into this game," Roethlisberger said. "I'm not really sure why. I texted my wife right before and said I've got a little bit of nerves, a little bit of jitters, whether it's lack of preparation or what."
That makes one that was, didn't seem like head coach Mike Tomlin had the same worries.
"There was less anxiety in terms of dealing with him in these circumstances maybe than some of the circumstances he and I have been in the past where his health was a factor in terms of availability," Tomlin said. "His health was not a factor, so we had very little reservations about his ability to perform once we got him to the stadium."
Roethlisberger is just 15th in the NFL in passing yards, but is fifth in touchdowns and has only four interceptions. He also has what no other season-long starting quarterback has, no losses.
"I just wanted to win the football game," Roethlisberger said. "That's always my goal. I don't ever put individual stats out there. I don't ever want to go into it and say I want to do this. I just want to go out and help the team win."
"I don't want to be the reason that we lose. That was my biggest goal."
