Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has taken a lot of hits in his career.
But he said Tuesday he’s “still very sore” after a shot to the chest from Ravens linebacker Courtney Upshaw last Thursday.
Upshaw was flagged for roughing the passer on the play, after drilling Roethlisberger on a clean run.
“I’m hurting today as much as I was at any point I can think of in the last year,” Roethlisberger said on 93.7 The Fan, via Scott Brown of ESPN.com.
Roethlisberger said it was the hardest he’s been hit since Bart Scott leveled him in 2006.
“This is easily right there with a close second,” Roethlisberger said. “I lost my breath instantly and remember hitting the ground thinking, ‘Boy, that hurt a lot.’ I kind of pride myself on not taking those big hits, but I sure as heck didn’t see it coming.”
He clearly didn’t see his own play falling off this way either. He was 22-of-37 for 217 yards and an interception, and the Steelers have scored just three field goals in their last six quarters.
It won’t get any easier for him Sunday night, against a Panthers defense which is top-five in both yards and points allowed.