Ben on the bench: Roethlisberger held out of Steelers exhibition game

Roethlisberger doesn’t get off Steelers bench

PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger couldn’t have had a much quieter return to Heinz Field.

Roethlisberger, wearing a Steelers uniform for the first time since drawing a six-game suspension for his off-field behavior, did not play in the first half of Pittsburgh’s exhibition game against Detroit on Saturday night.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin almost never plays regulars with backups, so Roethlisberger was not expected to take the field in a game delayed 1 hour, 13 minutes by lightning and heavy rain during the second quarter.

Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault, but not charged, following a March night of drinking in a Georgia bar.

There were no signs or other displays of anti-Roethlisberger sentiment inside the stadium.