Ben Roethlisberger had an interview with the media this morning. He was quite candid about how his arm feels after playing his first game in 364 days against the Giants on Monday Night. Ben says his elbow was just about the only thing that didn't hurt him after the game.
Ben Roethlisberger plans on taking off every Wednesday to allow his arm to get more recovery time. Ben will continue to wear a sleeve on his arm on the sidelines to keep it warm as well.
"My arm feels great," said Roethlisberger. "We'll keep the same routine as far as Wednesday rest day and then we will get back into it. Hence the sleeve I wore on the sideline and the sleeve I wore during the game. That's going to be the biggest thing, make sure it stays warm. For the most part we are going to do everything we can to keep it healthy and warm."
Ben acknowledged there was rust at first in the Giants game and said he would run out of the pocket too quick. He also said he just didn't feel the same in the pocket just yet either.
"I looked at the way I played, decision making. There was rust early," said Roethlisberger. "It's not like I played perfect. I looked at sometimes maybe I got out of the pocket a little too quick or didn't have the same feel in the pocket early on that I am used to having. I think that just comes with not getting hit, even in practice. Yeah, you have a pocket, you step up, but defenders aren't hitting you in practice so you lose some of that feel of where you can slide to, where you can step to. So, I think that will come back the more reps and plays you get."
Ben said most of his jitters were during the bus ride from the hotel to the stadium. Once he got to the stadium he said he calmed down.
"It was incredibly different," said Roethlisberger. "Pulling into the stadium and not having tailgaters and not seeing fans. I definitely had jitters on the bus ride over, but when you pulled into the stadium and not seeing all that usual kind of buzz before a game it calmed me down a little bit. Parking the bus outside the stadium and walking in, and not having cameras in your face, made it a little bit calmer. Taking the field for the first time with the quarterbacks and tight ends how we go out, it was emotional for me at first and then when you run out of the tunnel and there is no one screaming at you good or bad. Without having any fans, it was hard to describe. It definitely helped ease some of the nerves. It was definitely different."
Roethlisberger said it is going to feel different running through the tunnel at Heinz Field and not having the fans there.
"When I got hurt, and knowing I was going to come back, one of the things I was most excited about was running out of the tunnel at Heinz Field in front of our fans," said Roethlisberger. "To not have that this time I am going to be a little disappointed, but I know they will be there when it's time."
Ben acknowleged Zach Banner's Season Ending Surgery saying Banner earned his starting spot and he feels bad for him.
"Injuries always concern you, especially when it's the guys protecting you," said Roethlisberger. "I felt absolutely horrible for Zach. He busted his butt to get out here this year, to be in great shape, to be our starter. He earned that job. It wasn't given to him, he earned it. The first game I just felt bad. We texted last night. I told him I am thinking about him, praying for him. His story is not done yet."
"We will miss him, but we also have confidence Chuks will do the job. It was a close battle from what I hear from Coach Mike Tomlin. We'll need Chuks to step up, who has playing experience and expect him to do great things."