Injury updates Wednesday brought good news for two NFL teams as Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was cleared to practice and New England tight end Rob Gronkowski says his right knee injury is not serious.
"Big Ben" has been released from the NFL's concussion protocol program after self-reporting his troubles following a head injury last week at Seattle, a move that required clearance from an independent neurologist to return to on-field activities.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was happy to have Roethlisberger back on the field working ahead of Sunday's home game against Indianapolis but indicated the team would monitor its star quarterback all week.
Roethlisberger left the game against the Seahawks saying his peripheral vision was not normal and he felt as if he was looking through water.
Gronkowski is week to week with a right knee bone bruise but says he will return to the Patriots "when I am 100 percent." He was hurt Sunday at Denver during New England's first defeat of the season.
"I am thankful that it is nothing serious," Gronkowski said. "I'm just week-to-week. I'll be working hard to get back out on the field as soon as possible. When I am 100 percent, feeling good, cleared by all the doctors, the team, that is when I will be back. There's no timetable for that. I'll just be working hard and trying to get 100 percent as soon as possible."
Gronkowski was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of a 30-24 over-time loss to Denver after Broncos defensive back Darian Stewart hit Gronkowski low on an incomplete pass late in the fourth quarter.
Gronkowski's past injuries included a broken forearm in 2012 and torn right knee ligaments in 2013.
