Roethlisberger won't play Thursday
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not start the season opener against Miami on Thursday night after having an emergency appendectomy on Sunday afternoon.
Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett confirmed the surgery and said that Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher has already announced that backup Charlie Batch will start.
Roethlisberger, who could be discharged as early as Monday, is considered week-to-week.
Roethlisberger told the Steelers medical staff that he has been up all night vomiting and had stomach pain when he came to the training facility Sunday morning.
The staff put him through a short examination and quickly sent him to the hospital.
A doctor, who did not wish to be identified because he is unfamiliar with Roethlisberger’s condition, said it generally takes two or three days before an average person is released from the hospital after an appendectomy.
The surgery rarely has any long-term side effects, meaning that Roethlisberger should be able to play relatively soon.
One concern is a patient losing weight and strength in the short term. Roethlisberger had already lost approximately 20 pounds after a motorcycle accident he suffered June 12.
Roethlisberger was told he nearly died in the crash, but made a quick recovery despite several head injuries because he wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Roethlisberger recovered quickly enough after the accident that he was able to play in the exhibition opener for the Steelers.
