PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his wife are welcoming their new son.
Roethlisberger posted the news about Benjamin Jr. on his website Thursday.
Roethlisberger says his wife, Ashley, gave birth to their first child Wednesday at 10:06 p.m. The boy weighed 7 lbs., 1 oz. and is just over 19 inches long.
The quarterback says mother and baby are doing well and adds: "We want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers, it really means a lot to us. God is so good!"
Roethlisberger made an appearance Thursday at the Steelers' facility in Pittsburgh, smiling and waving to a well-wisher who congratulated him as he left practice about 30 minutes early. He previously had been scratched from Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns because of rib injuries.
Steelers offensive lineman Willie Colon said Roethlisberger "came in with that big old proud papa chest."
Teammate Max Starks said the quarterback seemed very excited -- and that he knows the feeling, since his first child, a girl, was born three weeks ago.
"I have no advice for him. I'm still working my way through it," the offensive lineman said with a laugh. "Just try and sleep when you can."
Roethlisberger says he'll have pictures to post this weekend.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press