Steelers

Steelers LB Ryan Shazier Has Regained Movement In Legs & Walking With Assistance

February 4, 2018

Update:

Michele Tafoya spoke with a source close to Ryan Shazier, who said the Steelers’ linebacker wants to clarify the report from earlier in the day. Assistance

@steelers @RyanShazier @SNFonNBC #NFL pic.twitter.com/kahYCRiPGD

— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) February 4, 2018

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Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Steelers LB Ryan Shazier has regained movement in his legs and is taking part in a regular walking routine.

“He’s making incredible progress,” said a source familiar with Shazier’s recovery tells Schefter.

According to Schefter, the next three to six months are critical for Shazier and his recovery, as this will give them an idea how much more function he can regain.

On Thursday, Shazier announced via his Instagram account that he’s officially been released from the hospital after two months of treatment.

Shazier, his father, Vernon, told WPXI that his son has feeling in his legs and is “making progress daily.”

“He’s making progress daily,” Vernon Shazier said, via PennLive.com. “He’s a long ways from where he was Monday night when he was laying on the field.”

When asked if his son could play football again, Vernon said yes while adding: “I Shalieve. I Shalieve.”

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.