On Wednesday, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert told reporters at the Combine that ILB Ryan Shazier “won’t play in 2018.”
Colbert added that Shazier will be a part of the Steelers, but they will place him on a special injured list.
“There’s no limit on his competitiveness, his desire to win,” Colbert said of Shazier, per George Bremer.
This doesn’t come as a big surprise, considering that severity of Shazier’s situation and the fact hat he’s still working to get back to 100 health.
Shazier underwent spinal stabilization surgery Dec. 6 after suffering a major injury while making a tackle against the Bengals.
Shazier, 25, is a former first-round pick of the Steelers back in 2014. He was in the final year of his four-year, $9.5 million contract and set to make a base salary of $1,284,292 for the 2016 season when the Steelers picked up his fifth-year option this past May.
Shazier will earn an $8.718 million salary for the 2017 season, which is guaranteed for injury only.
In 2017, Shazier has appeared in 11 games and recorded 87 tackles, three interceptions, a fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and 10 pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 8 inside linebacker out of 87 qualifying players.
We wish Shazier the best moving forward as he works his way back from this serious injury.
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