Steelers Legend Ben Roethlisberger Named 'Wildcard' Candidate for Jets
PITTSBURGH -- It's been a full season since Ben Roethlisberger took the field in the NFL, but the Pittsburgh Steelers legend has been named a "wildcard" for a return in 2023.
With the New York Jets losing Aaron Rodgers just four plays into the regular season, they're looking for some veteran presence to play behind Zach Wilson. With a few veteran candidates in free agency, they're doing their homework, but if they look outside of the box, a former Steeler might be their answer.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler believes Roethlisberger is a "wildcard" candidate to land the job and return to the NFL.
"Wild cards include retired quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and—wait for it—Blake Bortles, who went to the 2017 AFC Championship Game in Jacksonville with now-Jets playcaller Nathaniel Hackett as his offensive coordinator," Fowler writes.
Roethlisberger being a backup sounds strange, but at 41 years old, it'd be tough to say he'd walk on the field and be ready to go in Week 2. It also feels like he probably could be, though.
Fowler also tossed all the common names out there, like Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Phillip Rivers, and even Blake Bortles.
We'll see what the Jets decide, and if Roethlisberger pushes back his Hall of Fame enshrinement by another year.
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