Ben Roethlisberger was cleared by the NFL on Thursday to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers beginning next week, although no decision has been made on the length of his suspension.
The quarterback was suspended without pay for six games last month by commissioner Roger Goodell after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexual assault in Milledgeville, Ga. No charges were filed.
Roethlisberger underwent a behavioral evaluation as part of the suspension, which could be reduced to four games by Goodell, who will review the case again before the regular season.
The Steelers' next offseason workout is Tuesday, the first of three next week. They have three the following week, then are off until training camp starts on July 30. Roethlisberger already was cleared to join them in camp and can play in preseason games.
"Commissioner Goodell informed us today that based on the information he received from the clinical evaluations, he has cleared Ben Roethlisberger to return to the Steelers' facility to take part in both meetings and practices," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement released by the team. "We look forward to having Ben rejoin his teammates on the practice field."
Roethlisberger will be suspended through the Oct. 24 game against Miami and can return the next day. His first game would be at Super Bowl champion New Orleans in prime time on Oct. 31.
If the suspension is reduced to four games, he would return for a home matchup with the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 17.
March 2010 - Pittsburgh Steelers Wiretap
Leftwich Will Likely Start For Roethlisberger
Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich is emerging as the top candidate to start in place of Ben Roethlisberger at the beginning of the season.
Roethlisberger will miss as many as six games because of a league suspension.
Leftwich is handling nearly all of the first-team snaps in Pittsburgh's practices.
Goodell To Decide On Roethlisberger Soon
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he expects to decide within a week when Ben Roethlisberger can rejoin the Steelers for offseason workouts.
Goodell said Tuesday at the owners meetings that he would soon review the behavioral evaluation he ordered as part of Roethlisberger's six-game suspension.
Roethlisberger Still Not Cleared By NFL
The Steelers resumed their voluntary organized team activities on Tuesday, but did so without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
He still hasn't been cleared by the NFL after his mandated behavioral evaluation.
"I'm waiting for word from New York like everyone else," coach Mike Tomlin said. "I'm not going to speculate until I get that word."
Roethlisberger has reportedly completed his evaluation and is just awaiting for word from commissioner Roger Goodell.
Tomlin Plans To Name Starting QB By Camp
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he'll decide on his starting quarterback by the time training camp opens in July.
Tomlin said earlier in the week that he doesn't envision holding a typical competition between Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon to determine who will start while Ben Roethlisberger serves a suspension.
"Really, it's not a three-man quarterback competition at this point," Tomlin said.
"We know what all three men are capable of doing. All three men, at different points in time, have benefited us and helped us win football games or played winning football. We know what we're working with. We're going to spend the rest of this offseason teaching, re-acclimating in some cases -? as with Byron Leftwich -? and then we're going to make decisions and move forward."
Tomlin Will Choose QB Before Training Camp
Mike Tomlin says he'll decide on his starting quarterback by the time training camp opens in July.
Tomlin told the team's official Web site Wednesday that he doesn't envision having a typical competition between Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon to determine who'll be behind center while Ben Roethlisberger serves a six-game suspension to open the regular season. However, Tomlin said he'll "certainly" know the pecking order entering camp.
"Really, it's not a three-man quarterback competition at this point," Tomlin said. "We know what all three men are capable of doing. All three men, at different points in time, have benefited us and helped us win football games or played winning football. We know what we're working with. We're going to spend the rest of this offseason teaching, re-acclimating in some cases -? as with Byron Leftwich -? and then we're going to make decisions and move forward."
Tomlin added that "in all likelihood" he won't announce his decision at the start of camp, but he'll make it by then.
Report: Roethlisberger Completes Evaluation
Ben Roethlisberger has completed the behavioral evaluation ordered by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as part of the quarterback's six-game suspension.
Roethlisberger and the Steelers are now waiting for word when the quarterback will be cleared by Goodell to resume workouts.
On April 21, Goodell suspended the two-time Super Bowl winner for the first six games of the season and also ordered him to undergo a behavioral evaluation following a March incident in which a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexual assault in Milledgeville, Ga.
Steelers Sign WR Isaiah Williams
The Steelers signed first-year wide receiver Isaiah Williams, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie last year and was released before the season.
Williams took the roster spot of fellow WR Limas Sweed.
Steelers Place Sweed On IR
Limas Sweed has been placed on the injured reserve list because of a torn left Achilles tendon, a move that means he cannot play this season.
Sweed was waived after he was hurt during a May 2 mini-camp practice. He was placed on the reserve/injury list after clearing waivers.
Polamalu Feared Career-Ending Injury
Steelers safety Troy Polamalu suffered a serious knee injury last season, one that he worried might end his career.
"Yes, it was a concern," said Polamalu. "The hardest thing was if I would have injured it again, the doctor was saying that it will be a career-ending injury, most likely.
"I had to face that."
Polamalu was forced to wear a brace when he did play last season, something he was reluctant to do.
"In the past, I had to wear a brace because it was career-threatening. A career-ending injury if I would have sustained another injury," said Polamalu, explaining why he didn't play down the stretch last season.
Roethlisberger Underwent Behavioral Evaluation
Ben Roethlisberger can't be with his teammates until his evaluation is complete.
Tomlin Cautions On Naming Leftwich Starter
Mike Tomlin denies that Byron Leftwich has already won the starting role.
Sweed Injures Achilles During Minicamp
Limas Sweed could miss the 2010 season if his Achilles is ruptured.