Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Does Ben Roethlisberger have any arm strength left? Yes. Yes he does.
Roethlisberger had Tommy John surgery last season after injuring his elbow Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. Big Ben underwent a long and arduous recovery process, which led to natural questions about his future in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger is 38 years old this season, yet he’s signed for the next several seasons, tying him to the Steelers organization one way or another.
Ben looks great through 1.5 games, and much of that has to do with the receiving corps the Steelers have built around him. Chase Claypool was the team’s first draft pick this past April, and he’s already showing out in a big way.
Claypool is the deep threat the Steelers desperately needed
Sure, Pittsburgh has speed on their receiving corps, but none of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson or James Washington necessarily excel in that department the way Claypool does. The Notre Dame product can run straight by any defensive back in football, as he’s proven so far in just over one game of action.
It’s a long season, but Steelers fans have every right to be excited about this group. With a more-than-capable defensive front, Pittsburgh can and should contend in just about every game they play.