On Thursday, UPMC announced that Steelers LB Ryan Shazier remains hospitalized following his spinal stabilization surgery, but he has begun physical rehabilitation.
An update on @steelers Ryan Shazier. Further updates will be provided by UPMC. https://t.co/DMAfvWJKpG pic.twitter.com/1M4oleJ2mL
— UPMC (@UPMCnews) December 14, 2017
The Steelers recently placed Shazier on injured reserve, which officially put an end to his 2017 season.
Last weekend, Adam Schefter of ESPN, citing people familiar with his condition, reported that Shazier continues to show gradual improvement from his back injury. Schefter added that doctors were controlling and limiting his movement as they wait for the swelling and bruising in his back to subside.
Schefter mentioned that it would be premature to say whether Shazier will play football again and everyone’s current focus remains on doing everything they can to facilitate his recovery.
During their game against the Bengals, Shazier lowered his head to make a tackle on Bengals WR Josh Malone when his head made contact with Malone’s thigh. Shazer dropped to the turf and it was clear that his lower extremities weren’t functioning after the hit.
The Steelers medical staff loaded him on to a backboard and carted him off of the field before immediately taking him to a local hospital.
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’ll have more regarding Shazier’s injury as the news is available.
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