close

Roethlisberger ‘felt good’ after run tests

By Jim Wexell For The 4 min read

LATROBE – It was the blandest of run tests; it was the greatest of run tests. In steamy conditions ideal for a run test to open Steelers training camp, no one sputtered, stopped or gagged in Jamain Stephens fashion. That was the bland news.

The great news is that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger not only ran, but he completed all 14 40-yard dashes within his allotted time.

After the test he spoke to reporters as if it was just another practice instead of a practice that stamped his healthy return from a serious motorcycle accident less than seven weeks ago.

“It felt good,” said Roethlisberger. “I went out there and I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel. I haven’t been able to run too much, but to be able to go out there and run like that, it felt good. It felt good to get it done with.”

Roethlisberger remains thinner than he was at any point last season. He weighed into training camp at 236 pounds, which was down from last season, but Roethlisberger would not say by how much.

The quarterback ran with a pair of linemen – Marvel Smith and rookie Orien Harris – in a test that matches players with others at their own position, or position type. Each class has its own time under which it must finish, and the linemen, of course, have more time to finish.

Roethlisberger doesn’t plan to ease through the rest of the practice week. He said he’ll practice today in the Steelers’ first official practice of the season. He said he has no questions about it.

“Not in my mind,” he said. “If I go out there and feel light-headed or dizzy, which would be news to me, than that’s different. But as of right now, I plan on going out there, being with the first group and going strong.”

“He looked good,” said coach Bill Cowher. “We dropped him as far as the speed a little bit. It was good to see him get out here and finish, get him running. He looked fine.”

And Cowher’s practice plan for Roethlisberger?

“We’re just going to go, and then monitor things as we go,” Cowher said. “I think that’s the best way to approach this. There’s no more apprehension. The only way you can relieve that is to go out there and play.”

Injury update

The following players missed the run test because of minor injuries: Jeff Hartings, Max Starks, Casey Hampton, Duce Staley, Charlie Batch, Shaun Nua, Joey Porter and Walter Young.

Cowher said that Porter (knee) and Young (foot) will start camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. They can be activated at any time before the start of the season, but once the season begins they must remain on the list of six weeks. Cowher said it’s just a precautionary measure and that “Joe’s going to be fine.”

Cowher said that Hampton “tweaked” a hamstring last week running for the test. “I was surprised,” Cowher said. “I didn’t know he could run fast enough to tweak it.”

Nua, a young defensive end, also has a minor hamstring injury. The others are monitoring old injuries.

Fastest of the fast

Nate Washington ran in the final class of players, which included, in his heat, Santonio Holmes, Cedrick Wilson, Sean Morey and Ike Taylor. Wilson led most of the 14 runs, but the one that mattered, the final one, was dominated by Washington, the second-year wide receiver.

“Give him the title of fastest, Nate Washington,” said Willie Parker.

Parker ran in an earlier heat with three linebackers. His sub 4.3 speed wasn’t challenged by the team’s elite runners, so he’s allowing the title of team’s fastest player to go to Washington.

“Well, I won’t let him; he’s got to come take it. But today he put on the greatest show when he beat Ike and everybody,” said the player they call Fast Willie. “I even told him he stepped up a little notch or two in the speed game.”

“I’m trying,” said Washington. “Hopefully this is my year right here to make a name for myself. I’m just trying to do my best.”

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today