Tomlin: 'There's a chance' Roethlisberger will return in 2021

Mike Tomlin has yet to make any decisions regarding his 2021 quarterback room.

The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach addressed Ben Roethlisberger's future with the organization Wednesday during his season-ending press conference and lauded the veteran's ability to return from the major injury he suffered in 2019.

"I don't have a clear assessment of the overall depth of the cap ramifications, but I think it's reasonable to assume there's a chance (Roethlisberger will) be back, certainly," Tomlin told reporters, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

He added: "We haven't made any decisions about any (of) our personnel along those lines," per NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.

Entering the final year of his current contract, Roethlisberger has a $41.25-million cap hit in 2021, but Pittsburgh would incur $22.25 million in dead money if it moved on from the quarterback this offseason.

Tomlin acknowledged that certain adjustments, whether on his roster or staff, are necessary for the Steelers to compete.

"I understand we better make some changes in what we do - schematics, personnel," the head coach said, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I'm committed to doing it."

"I'm not going to maintain the status quo and hope it changes," he added. "That's the definition of insanity."

The Steelers started 11-0 before dropping five of their last six games to end the campaign, including a wild-card loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Roethlisberger, who turns 39 in March, completed 65.6% of his passes for 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2020 but averaged a career-low 6.3 yards per attempt.

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