Ben Roethlisberger Vows to Return in Somber Statement on Season-Ending Elbow Injury

It's a tough time in the Steel City. Their beloved NFL team is 0-2, and is reeling from the news that longtime franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is suddenly done for 2019 with an elbow injury that requires surgery.

As Pittsburgh struggles to pick up the pieces, Big Ben has now broken his silence on the matter with an official statement delivered through the team that provides a view into his emotional state-- and his outlook for the future.

As the statement reads in full:

"I’ve been informed that I need season ending surgery on my elbow to continue playing football at the level I expect. This is shocking and heartbreaking for me, to miss this much of a season and feel like I am letting down so many people. I can only trust God’s plan, but I am completely determined to battle through this challenge and come back stronger than ever next season. The Steelers committed three years to me this offseason and I fully intend to honor my contract and reward them with championship level play. I will do all I can to support Mason and the team this season to help win games. I love this game, my teammates, the Steelers organization and fans, and I feel in my heart I have a lot left to give."

There you have it. Big Ben doesn't want to be done playing football. He'll be 38 years old not long after the conclusion of the current season, but his dogged attitude shines through here. He may have suffered a major setback, but he's clearly not done fighting for this team quite yet.