PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin doesn’t have checkpoints for Ben Roethlisberger yet. Two days removed from the end of the Steelers’ season, he says, he can’t.

But the head coach did highlight an appointment the quarterback has at the start of next month that he said will clarify Roethlisberger’s and the Steelers’ offseason plans.

“I know that he’s due for an update somewhere around the first of February, a checkup that will be probably significant in terms of mapping out what’s next," Tomlin said. "But that’s a moving target, that date.”

In the same end-of-season press conference Tomlin declared Mason Rudolph as Roethlisberger’s immediate backup. He also said he didn’t know the veteran quarterback market well enough to comment on the potential of bringing in another signal caller.

Roethlisberger himself said via Twitter that he’s “more determined than ever" to return next season.

P.S. Contrary to recent reports out there about my football future and my ‘uncertainty’ about playing again, I am working hard and am more determined than ever to come back stronger and better than ever next year! — BigBen7.com (@_BigBen7) December 25, 2019

Part of his broader evaluation will include figuring out what weaknesses of the offense were a product of Roethlisberger’s absence due to a Week 2 elbow injury, and which weren’t. But he repeatedly said he hasn’t done the season-long study that would allow him to say as much on Tuesday.

“I think you go into it just ready to peel back all the layers and analyze every aspect of play. Yes some of it relates to Ben and his presence and you understand what his presence means," Tomlin said. "But largely you’re just analyzing it. And so, you know, we got areas to improve in across the board, positionally, schematically and I look forward to [doing] so as it relates to Ben as it does not pertain to Ben as well.”

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.