Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger May Be Ready For Season Opener After All -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

God wasn't ready to take Ben Roethlisberger. He's really blessed. It wasn't his time at all.

Roethlisberger's injuries only on face, should be ready for opener

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The injuries to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were confined to his face and the Steelers are confident he should heal and be ready to play in the season opener Sept. 7 against the Miami Dolphins, sources told the Post-Gazette today.

Roethlisberger has a broken jaw, a broken nose and some injuries to his teeth but otherwise came through his motorcycle accident on Monday with nothing else but some scrapes and bruises. Published reports that detailed injuries to his knees and shoulders are untrue, sources said.

One source said that the surgery on Roethlisberger's face took so long -- seven hours -- in order to assist in a faster recovery time. Roethlisberger also should be ready to participate in training camp, although he may not play in the first preseason game Aug. 12 in Arizona.

The quarterback had seven hours of surgery yesterday afternoon and evening to repair facial fractures caused when his motorcycle struck a car on Second Avenue at the 10th Street Bridge.

After the surgery, doctors said the facial fractures were successfully repaired but they would not elaborate. They did say that there appear to be no brain, spine, chest or abdomen injuries.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.