From Mirror, wire reports
LATROBE - Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday that he has a minor torn rotator cuff injury.
He was injured in the Steelers' Nov. 6 loss to Baltimore this past season. He mentioned the injury in the spring, but Wednesday was the first time he's publicly called it a rotator cuff tear.
Roethlisberger said it feels fine, that his arm feels strong and that it should not hamper any of his throws.
"I'm good. It's OK, just sore," he told the Post-Gazette. "I have a little torn rotator cuff. That doesn't heal. We just have to hope it doesn't tear the rest of the way, according to Doc," he said, laughing.
When asked if Roethlisberger's arm causes the team any concern, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin answered, "None." Tomlin said he is not limited in making any throws, but Roethlisberger said he does take some precautions.
"It's part of getting older, too,'' he said. "If you watch walk-throughs, I used to throw all the time. Now it's just backing off. Now I don't ever throw during walk-throughs. It's less throwing; I think that's smart anyway."
Roethlisberger claimed to have certain injuries in the past that were downplayed by Tomlin and former coach Bill Cowher.
"It actually feels great,'' Roethlisberger told the Post-Gazette later about the injury. "I don't have any pains anymore. Let's just hope it doesn't get any worse."
