Roethlisberger 2-3 months from being fully cleared

After undergoing elbow surgery last September, Ben Roethlisberger appears to be inching toward returning to the field.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, who suited up for just two games in 2019, was optimistic about his recovery after visiting the doctor on Friday.

"It was a good report," Roethlisberger said, according to 93.7 The Fan's Ron Cook. "I got to bypass the tennis ball throwing for a month and go right to the football. (It's) still going to be about two-and-a-half-to-three months until I get total clearance from doc but we are doing good!"

Big Ben recently resumed throwing, and he could be healthy in time for offseason activities.

"It felt amazing to throw," he said. "It was hard to hold the smile in. (I'll have) two more throwing sessions while I'm out here in California and then (I'm) headed back to (Pittsburgh)."

Roethlisberger set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns in 2018. Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges split starts under center last season in the veteran's absence.