Ben Roethlisberger has been cleared to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the length of his suspension has yet to be confirmed.
Quarterback returns to training after behavioural evaluation
Ben Roethlisberger has been given permission to return to training with the Pittsburgh Steelers, although no final decision has been taken on the length of his playing suspension.
The 28-year-old quarterback was handed a six-game ban back in May due to a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexual assault in a Georgia nightclub.
Roethlisberger, who did not face criminal charges over the allegations, underwent a league-mandated professional behaviour evaluation as part of the suspension.
However, he could still see the ban reduced from six to four games league by league commissioner Roger Goodell who will review the case again before the regular season starts.
If the suspension remains at six games he will be permitted to return for the Steelers' clash against Super Bowl champions New Orleans Saints on October 31, but if it is reduced to four he could come back against the Cleveland Browns on October 17.
In the meantime he can now resume training ahead of the new season with the Steelers and can play in pre-season 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."
