Last week, Ben Roethlisberger suffered a lefty left pectoral injury. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger practices, to play vs. Bengals

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Sep 24, 2021 4:29 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was limited in practice Thursday because of the left pectoral injury he suffered in last Sunday's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, and some wondered about the veteran's status for the Week 3 showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Wonder no more.

According to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Roethlisberger was a full participant in practice Friday and carries no official injury designation into the weekend.

Roethlisberger has thus far taken 16 hits this season and is on pace to be sacked 34 times. The 39-year-old will struggle to make it through the end of 2021 intact if those trends continue much longer.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt is dealing with a groin injury but said Friday the "door is open" for him to play against Cincinnati. However, star wide receiver Diontae Johnson (knee), linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) and defensive lineman Carlos Davis (knee) are all out.

the Steelers stupidly called this play instead just taking a knee last week

WR Diontae Johnson was injured and now he’s been ruled out this week pic.twitter.com/vDQUuLKhbx
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 24, 2021

Johnson led the Steelers with 14 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown over the campaign's first two weeks.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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