Ben Roethlisberger reportedly has a separated shoulder, and his status for next weekend’s divisional-round game against the Denver Broncos is up in the air.
Michael Silver of NFL.com reports the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has an MRI scheduled today and that Big Ben will try to play, depending on the extent of the damage suffered.
The injury occurred early in the fourth quarter when Vontaze Bufict sacked him hard with a pile-driving hit (watch here).
Roethlisberger did make it back into the game and led a game-winning drive. However, his ability to make throws down the field was significantly hampered:
Ben Roethlisberger – Average Throw Distance Beyond Line of Scrimmage
Final Drive: 0.7 yards
Other Drives: 6.8 yards— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 10, 2016
If Roethlisberger can play, he will. There is never any doubt about that. We’ve witnessed him playing on ankles that would keep normal human beings on their couches. That said, if his shoulder is bad enough, team doctors could force him to stay out of the game, being that the injury is on his throwing arm.
Should Roethlisberger be unable to play, then Landry Jones would get the start. He went 1-1 in his two starts this year and finished the season completing 58.2 percent of his passes with 513 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.