Ben Roethlisberger declined an invitation this week to play in the Pro Bowl because of a right shoulder injury.

Tom Brady backed out of his spot on the AFC roster for the Pro Bowl, which will be held Jan. 31 in Miami, because of various minor injuries.

As the first alternate, Roethlisberger was offered Brady's spot on the roster. However, the Steelers quarterback declined, a club spokesman said, because doctors advised him to get his shoulder "100 percent."

Roethlisberger did not miss a practice this season, although he missed one game after complaining of headaches the week after he sustained a concussion in Kansas City Nov. 22.

The quarterback seemed to favor his right shoulder during the team's season-ending game at Miami Jan. 3, holding his arm down to the side. Backup Dennis Dixon warmed up during the game, but Roethlisberger never left the contest.

Roethlisberger declined to talk about any physical problem after the game.

Mike Tomlin was asked two days later at his press conference if there was anything seriously wrong with his quarterback's arm.

"No, I don't think that it is, but I don't have specific, detailed information regarding it," Tomlin said. "But I don't think it's anything that's going to require a medical procedure of any kind."

Roethlisberger spent some time at the team's facility on the South Side Monday. This would have been his second Pro Bowl; he made it after the 2007 season. Houston's Matt Schaub was added to the AFC roster to replace Brady.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.