The quarterback was suspended without pay for six games last month by commissioner Roger Goodell after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexual assault in Milledgeville, Georgia No charges were filed.
Roethlisberger underwent a behavioral evaluation as part of the suspension, which could be reduced to four games by Goodell, who will review the case again before the regular season.
The Steelers’ next offseason workout is Tuesday, the first of three next week. They have three the following week, then are off until training camp starts on July 30. Roethlisberger already was cleared to join them in camp and can play in preseason games.
“Commissioner Goodell informed us today that based on the information he received from the clinical evaluations, he has cleared Ben Roethlisberger to return to the Steelers’ facility to take part in both meetings and practices,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement released by the team. “We look forward to having Ben rejoin his teammates on the practice field.”
Roethlisberger will be suspended through the Oct. 24 game against Miami and can return the next day. His first game would be at Super Bowl champion New Orleans in prime time on Oct. 31.
If the suspension is reduced to four games, he would return for a home matchup with the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 17.
Roethlisberger is the first player suspended by Goodell under the conduct policy who hasn’t been arrested or charged with a crime. When he handed down the penalty, Goodell cited a “pattern of behavior” that gave him the right to impose discipline even though no law was broken.
Roethlisberger also is being sued by a woman who accused him of raping her at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino in 2008. He denied the allegation and wasn’t charged.
Sitting out all six games would cost the two-time Super Bowl winner an estimated $2.8 million of his $102 million total contract.
In Roethlisberger’s absence, the Steelers have used Byron Leftwichmas the first-string quarterback in practices. Leftwich likely will be the starter for Pittsburgh in its season opener against Atlanta.
In Alameda, California, the Oakland Raiders have filed a grievance seeking nearly $10 million back from recently released quarterback JaMarcus Russell.
Yahoo! Sports first reported the story Thursday, saying the Raiders are seeking $9.55 million from Russell in what was paid as salary advances for the 2010-12 seasons. The team later confirmed the report.
“We have filed a grievance against JaMarcus Russell and that’s all we’re going to say at this time,” Raiders general counsel Jeff Birren said in a statement.
Russell was released earlier this month after three disappointing seasons with the team. He had been paid about $36.4 million through last season and was still owed $3 million at the time of his release.
Russell’s agent, Eric Metz, did not immediately return an e-mail seeking a comment. He earlier told Yahoo that: “The money in question was fully guaranteed. That is why JaMarcus was forced to hold out and miss all of training camp as a rookie. The Raiders know that and this is our only comment.”
After being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, Russell’s career in Oakland got off to a rocky start. He did not sign a contract until after the first regular season game of his rookie year in 2007 as the two sides haggled over the language of guaranteed money, among other issues.
He started just one game as a rookie before showing some signs of progress in his second season. He regressed last year as he was fined for being overweight and criticized by the coaching staff for his work ethic.
He ultimately lost his starting job midway through last season as his passer rating of 50.0 was the lowest in the NFL since 1998. Owner Al Davis finally decided to cut ties three weeks ago with the player he once believed would be his franchise quarterback.
Russell won only seven of his 25 starts in his career with Oakland. He completed just 52.1 percent of his passes in his career with 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 15 lost fumbles and a passer rating of 65.2.
Russell has not yet signed with another team.
