PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who had surgery to repair facial fractures suffered during a motorcycle accident, was upgraded to fair condition on Tuesday.

Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Mercy Hospital, said Roethlisberger was "alert and awake" with his family by his side.

If Roethlisberger continues to improve, he could be discharged by the weekend, doctors said.

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Roethlisberger was riding his Suzuki Hayabusa on Second Avenue when he collided with a car near the 10th Street Bridge late Monday morning, police said. He fractured his upper and lower jaws, broke his nose, fractured other facial bones, had multiple head lacerations, suffered a mild concussion, and lost two teeth and chipped several others.

Doctors said his brain is functioning normally and a CT scan showed no injury.

Roethlisberger, 24, was initially listed in serious but stable condition. He underwent seven hours of surgery on Monday.

Nobody has been cited in the crash. Police are still investigating and will reconstruct the accident, a police spokeswoman said.

Roethlisberger was not wearing a helmet when he crashed and has said he prefers not to wear one. Under Pennsylvania law, going helmetless is legal if the driver has been licensed for two years or has completed a safety course.

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