There won't be a Ben Roethlisberger-Tom Brady matchup in this year's regular season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' veteran quarterback is still recovering from knee surgery he underwent on Monday and has been ruled out for Sunday's home matchup against the New England Patriots, the team announced Tuesday.
MORE: What stood out in Week 6
"When he is healthy, he'll be back with us," coach Mike Tomlin said.
Roethlisberger left Sunday's loss in Miami in the first half before eventually returning in the third quarter to finish the game. However, it was later revealed he had a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery. The good news is the surgery was described as a "clean up procedure," so he's not expected to miss much time.
Roethlisberger, who has been banged up for much of his 13-year career, missed four weeks last season after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain.
MORE: Don't freak out yet, Steelers fans
With no definitive timetable for his return, Pittsburgh will turn to backup Landry Jones to temporarily fill the void under center. The team's high-octane offense could take a significant hit, as Landry managed a 58.2 completion rate and 77.3 passer rating on 55 attempts while filling in for Roethlisberger last season.
After hosting the Patriots this week, the Steelers have a in Week 8 before traveling to Baltimore for a divisional showdown with the rival Ravens in Week 9. The team is cautiously optimistic Big Ben will be healed and ready to return by then.