Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gritted his way through an ankle injury to lead the Steelers to a 14-3 win over the Cleveland Browns on Thursday.
On Friday, Pittsburgh learned the extent of the damage done.
Roethlisberger sustained only a moderate high-ankle sprain, according to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
An MRI taken on Friday revealed the injury, which the Post-Gazette described as not being of the most severe, Grade 3 variety.
Roethlisberger's agent, Ryan Tollner, told the newspaper that the veteran quarterback has his left foot in a walking boot and "will need rest."
Unfortunately for the Steelers, Roethlisberger wasn't the only offensive starter to reportedly suffer a high-ankle sprain during Thursday night's win.
Offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey also sustained the injury, the Post-Gazette said, and the prognosis for both he and Roethlisberger was described as "not good," according to the newspaper.
Pouncey, a second-year center, injured his right ankle and did not return.
Both injuries were suffered in the second quarter, but while Pouncey was unable to come back, Roethlisberger returned to the field after halftime and threw for 178 yards in the second half, including a 79-yard touchdown to Antonio Brown that provided the game's final score.
"I wanted to be there for the guys," Roethlisberger said Thursday following the game. "I wanted to let them know that I'm going to be there and I'm going to fight no matter what."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
