Steelers LB Ryan Shazier Has MCL Sprain, Hoping To Be Back Before Week 8 Bye

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Steelers LB Ryan Shazier is dealing with a sprained MCL but is still hoping to return to the team before their Week 8 bye.

Shazier has been forced to miss the past two games because of the knee injury he sustained.

Shazier, 24, is a former first-round pick of the Steelers back in 2014. He’s currently in the third year of his four-year, $9.5 million contract and set to make a base salary of $1,284,292 for the 2016 season.

Next year, the Steelers will need to decide whether or not to pick up his fifth-year option.

In 2016, Shazier has appeared in three games for the Steelers and recorded 20 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble and two pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 73 linebacker out of 83 qualifying players.