Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 players who won’t be back in 2022

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 09: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts after Chase Claypool #11 caught the ball over defender Patrick Peterson #7 of the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 9, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 19: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs onto the field during player introductions prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field on December 19, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Regardless of whether the Pittsburgh Steelers make the playoffs or not, these three players probably won’t return in 2022.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are very much in the hunt for an AFC playoff berth entering Week 16. However, they have a difficult task of defeating the red-hot Kansas City Chiefs. Then, they have matchups against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens to wrap up their regular season.

Regardless of whether the Steelers make the playoffs or not, they are set to have an interesting offseason to say the least. They have 22 players set to hit free agency and could see some big roster turnover heading into the new league year.

Here are three Steelers players who probably won’t return in 2022.

Steelers: Players who won’t be back in Pittsburgh in 2022

Ben Roethlisberger, QB

Let’s get the most obvious choice out of the way. The Steelers had to negotiate and restructure quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s contract in the 2021 league year to free up money. Roethlisberger was coming off a down 2020 season, but the team gave him at least one more season to make one last run to the Super Bowl.

Entering Week 16, Roethlisberger has thrown for 3,214 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 65.2-percent of his passes.

There was the report this season that Roethlisberger had told former teammates and members of the Steelers organization that the 2021 season would be his last with the team. Roethlisberger said days after this report surfaced that he will comment on his future after the season.

The Steelers are in a position where they must find their future option at the quarterback position. Whether it is a short-term choice like a veteran on the trading block/free agency, or selecting one of the young quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft.

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