Ben Roethlisberger wonders if 49ers targeted his injured ankle

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has some interesting thoughts about being the target of players trying to injure him.

While appearing on radio’s “The Dan Patrick Show” on Wednesday, he had this to say about the Steelers’ 20-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 19, in which Roethlisberger played with an injured ankle:

“I think when we played San Fran, I felt like there were some things going on, some extra.... Now, obviously, I did have the ankle and I was playing, so there was kind of a bull’s-eye on there anyway. But for the most part, guys play tough and you go into a game expecting it. I expect to be tougher than them.”

Roethlisberger threw three interceptions and fumbled twice during that game.

“Sometimes you get guys -- things happen under piles and, you know, the little extra twisting of the ankles and poking, things like that,” Roethlisberger said. “But this whole bounty thing -- I don’t know if I’d sit there and say, ‘Wow, that guy really tried to end my career.’ Honestly, I don’t know.”

There were no penalties for illegal hits during the game.

RELATED:

The Junior Seau no one apparently knew

Three more concussion lawsuits filed against the NFL

Former linebacker Riki Ellison writes on the death of Junior Seau

Ben Roethlisberger wonders if 49ers targeted his injured ankle