Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be placed on the COVID-19 reserve list and will not play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the team announced on Saturday night.
Roethlisberger, who has also been dealing with left pectoral and right shoulder injuries, participated in just one practice session this week on Friday. Mason Rudolph will be expected to make his first start of the 2021 season in Roethlisberger’s place.
Roethlisberger is the first Steelers player to be placed on the COVID-19 reserve list this season. All vaccinated NFL players are being tested weekly. Unvaccinated players are tested daily.
If he has been vaccinated, Roethlisberger will need to have back-to-back negative tests separated by 24 hours before being permitted to return to the team. If he has not been vaccinated, Roethlisberger will miss 10 days, which would also keep him out for the Steelers’ Week 11 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.