Ben Roethlisberger Felt Penalty Should Been Called When He Was Hit after Handoff

PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has taken his fair share of hits in his NFL career, but he took exception hit he took from Titans nose tackle Naquan Jones on Sunday.

Roethlisberger handed the ball of to Najee Harris on what he clarified was just a regular run play and not an RPO. A second later, Jones hit Roethlisberger in the chin and chest, knocking down the Pittsburgh passer.

“It was just a run play,” Roethlisberger said. “I didn’t try and carry out a fake. I just stood there. The guy hit me square in my chest. It was not like I was trying to act like I had the ball or anything. I was just standing there.”

There was no foul called on the play, though CBS Sports NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore said that he felt there should have been.

NFL Rules Analyst Says Titans Should Have Been Flagged for Late Hit on Ben Roethlisberger

Roethlisberger said he didn’t get much of an answer about the no-call when he tracked down referee Bradley Rogers after the play.

“The ref told me once the ball is handed off, he looks to the front to the play side,” Roethlisberger said. “I asked him what about the other ref that we have standing back there. He said he was looking at the back side. He said he’ll have to look at it. That was the explanation I got.”

Head coach Mike Tomlin was asked if he was unhappy about his quarterback not being protected, and he answered simply: 

“I was.”