While it’s not a big deal considering the time of year and league rules and regulations, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was one of several players who reportedly missed the team’s OTA practice on Wednesday.
While no reason has been given or required for Roethlisberger’s absence, the fact that his wife recently gave birth to the couple’s third child last week more than likely has something to do with it.
Not surprisingly, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell was also absent on Wednesday and according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, he was elsewhere receiving treatment.
Other media reports indicate that cornerback Senquez Golson and outside linebackers James Harrison and Bud Dupree were also absent on Wednesday. In Golson’s case, he’s now missed a few practices dating back to the end of last week after needing an MRI on a soft tissue injury that he had suffered. He has since ensured the media that his recent medical needs were in no way related to the shoulder injury that he suffered last year during the team’s OTAs that resulted in him missing his entire rookie season as a result of surgery.
While we’ve yet to hear the reason as to why Dupree was absent, Harrison not being present is not a big surprise as he’s been spotted wearing his sweats when photographed on the team’s practice field during previous sessions. That’s likely to continue to be the case until the team shows up at Latrobe for the start of training camp later on this summer as there’s no reason to push the 38-year-old this early on in the offseason.
Per the CBA, player’s attendance at OTA practices is not mandatory. The Steelers are expected to wrap up their second week of OTA practices on Thursday.
