Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger out for the season

The balance of power in the AFC North Division took a major shift on Monday with the news that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will need surgery on his right elbow and will miss the remainder of the 2019 season.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin announced the news in a short release on the team’s website:

Ben Roethlisberger had an MRI on his right elbow Sunday evening and it was determined by the Steelers’ medical team that surgery will be required. We expect the surgery will be scheduled for this week. He will be placed on our Reserve/Injured List and is out for the season.

Roethlisberger left Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half after attempting a pass on Pittsburgh’s final drive of the half.

The injury puts the Steelers in a bit of a bind after they traded backup quarterback Josh Dobbs to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. On Sunday, Mason Rudolph took over after Roethlisberger was injured and almost led the Steelers to a win over the Seahawks. The only other quarterback currently around the team is Devlin Hodges, an undrafted rookie who was added to Pittsburgh’s practice squad last week.

Since entering the NFL in 2004, Roethlisberger has posted a record of 23-2-1 against the Cleveland Browns.

The two teams will meet this year on November 14 in Cleveland and again on December 1 in Pittsburgh.