As expected, the Steelers will send quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for an MRI Sunday night on his injured elbow in the aftermath of the team's 28-26 loss to the Seahawks earlier in the day.
Results of the MRI were not immediately known, but Roethlisberger did not appear to take a hit on the elbow, causing the Steelers to be seriously concerned about the issue.
According to a source, Roethlisberger had experienced some discomfort in the elbow during the week, though that is not uncommon for the 37-year-old quarterback.
Roethlisberger did not practice last Wednesday after throwing 47 passes against the Patriots in the team's regular season opener two weeks ago. But that also is not an uncommon. Mike Tomlin typically gives his quarterback Wednesday off from practice to allow him to rest his arm.
Roethlisberger left Sunday's game with the injury at the end of the first half. He was seen holding his elbow and wincing after one throw late in the half, but stayed in to lead a field goal drive that put the Steelers ahead, 10-7.
Roethlisberger looked off throughout the game, completing just 8 of 15 for 75 yards before exiting.
Second-year quarterback Mason Rudolph relieved Roethlisberger went 12 of 19 for 112 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Roethlisberger has not missed a game because of injury since the 2016 season when he missed two games with a torn meniscus in his knee.
He has appeared in 31 of 32 games the past two seasons, sitting out only a season-ending win over the Browns in 2017 with the team's playoff position assured.
Complicating matters for the Steelers is the fact the team traded third-string quarterback Josh Dobbs to the Jaguars last Monday for a fifth-round draft pick. Dobbs had been Roethlisberger's backup last season but fell behind Rudolph, a third-round draft pick in 2018, on the depth chart.
The Steelers signed rookie Devlin Hodges, who had been with the team in the offseason, to the practice squad after the trade of Dobbs.
Hodges is expected to be signed to the active roster this week.
The Steelers (0-2) travel to San Francisco to play the 49ers (2-0) next Sunday.
