A broken foot that slowed Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger through much of the end of last season -- and into the playoffs and Super Bowl -- may need an operation to correct the injury.

Roethlisberger, speaking to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Friday, said his right foot bothered him so much last season "there were times during practice and games where I didn't feel like I'd be able to walk."

But the lockout, Roethlisberger told the newspaper, has given him time to rest. And as a result the foot has nearly fully healed.

"I could have had surgery, but according to the doctors it would have been a really nasty process because of where the break was," Roethlisberger said. "It was better off trying not to do anything. It's going to be something where we're just going to have to, in essence, play it by ear.

"If it continues to be as painful as it was at the end of last year, then I'm going to probably have to have the surgery."

But as the lockout continues -- Saturday marked the standoff's 102nd day -- Roethlisberger has taken advantage of the downtime.