Per CBSSports.com, Steelers could have Ben Roethlisberger return by end of October

When the Pittsburgh Steelers watched their star quarterback crumble to the ground in the Week 3 game against the St. Louis Rams, they feared the worst. After finding out his diagnosis was a sprained MCL and a bone bruise, it assured them No. 7 would be back under center at some point in the 2015 regular season, but the time table remained extremely murky.

As experts labeled the injury leaving Roethlisberger out of the lineup from 4-6 weeks, medical experts were encouraged by the simple fact Roethlisberger was able to walk without crutches for the team's Thursday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens. Roethlisberger even threw some passes in pre-game warm ups before the Steelers' overtime defeat.

Sunday, CBSSports.com insider Jason La Confora is reporting Roethlisberger is ahead of schedule in terms of his rehab. In fact, Roethlisberger returning for the game on Octobert 25th against the Kansas City Chiefs is not out of the realm of possibility for the two-time Super Bowl champion.

Roethlisberger is off crutches and moving well, according to team sources, and his MCL is on target for a four-week return.

There has been some concern about the bone bruise on the knee as well, and lingering discomfort with that, but so far so good, sources said. While some on the Steelers have quietly said they would not be shocked to see Roethlisberger return before the end of October, at this point a safe estimate is Oct. 25 at Kansas City, barring any setbacks.

As the Steelers offense has sputtered in Roethlisberger's absence, hearing news of Roethlisberger's knee healing on schedule, if not ahead of schedule, is music to the ears of the black and golf faithful across the globe.