Another Steelers Training Camp, Another Ben Roethlisberger Injury Revelation

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger revealed on Wednesday that he's been dealing with a slight tear of the rotator cuff in his right throwing shoulder, an injury he sustained in last November's contest against the Baltimore Ravens.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said that he's not concerned about the injury, which hasn't limited Roethlisberger in training camp, but that of course, the goal is for the tear to not get worse. Rotator cuff tears do not heal on their own and at some point, it is something Roethlisberger has to address, but not likely this season.

Roethlisberger claims that the "little" tear no longer causes him any pain and that he's stopped throwing in walk-throughs simply to preserve his arm now that he's 30 years old and that it's not related to the injury.

Though no one on the team is publicly worried about the tear getting worse, the revelation at least throws cold water on the hopes that the oft-injured quarterback can finally have a fully healthy season this year.

A combination of injuries and a four-game suspension in 2010 has left Roethlisberger with just one season in which he's played all 16 regular-season games. And with this latest shoulder injury finally made public, it appears there could be more missed games in his immediate future.

For what it's worth, the Steelers have managed to do well even when Roethlisberger has been sidelined—and, considering his injury history, it is also impressive how little time he's missed.

Shoulder, foot, hand and ankle injuries have just been some of the ailments Roethlisberger has suffered over the years, but he's never missed significant time (half a season or longer), so it's understandable why the team is currently downplaying this apparently minor rotator cuff tear.

However, rotator cuff tears can easily get worse. While there's little concern for this happening while throwing in training camp, it could tear further as Roethlisberger gets hit in the regular season. And unlike the other problems he's had in the past, a full rotator cuff tear isn't something that he can return from in a week or two—it'll end his season.

No, it's not time to panic yet in Pittsburgh, not by a long shot. But Roethlisberger's admission of this rotator cuff injury should draw more than just the modicum of concern it's generated thus far. It's a presently minor injury that could potentially become much more once the season begins.

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