Steelers confirm Ryan Shazier will not play in 2018
Ryan Shazier has taken some big steps in his recovery from a spinal injury he suffered during the 2017 season, but it remains unclear if he will ever play football again. Should he return, it will not be at any point in 2018.
While speaking with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert confirmed that Shazier is not going to play next season.
Steelers GM Kevin Colbert: “Ryan Shazier won’t play in 2018. He knows that and we know that.”
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiecsun) February 28, 2018
While disappointing, the news is unfortunately not surprising. Shazier suffered the injury in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4, and he recently revealed that he is still unable to walk on his own. Therapists have been raving about the progress the 25-year-old has made, but playing football and walking again are two entirely different accomplishments.
Based on what Shazier said recently about his NFL career, it would be unwise of us to rule anything out. Hopefully he can use the entire 2018 season to gain the strength needed to get back to playing.
Ryan Shazier still aiming for Hall of Fame despite injury
Suffering a serious spine injury has not changed Ryan Shazier’s goal of making the Hall of Fame.
Shazier joined his Pittsburgh Steelers teammate Roosevelt Nix on his podcast that was released on Tuesday. In their conversation, the two talked about Shazier’s recovery from a serious injury suffered during a Monday night game against the Bengals on Dec. 4.
Shazier told Nix that he is doing two hours of rehab, five days a week, and that doctors and therapists are raving about the progress he’s making.
“The therapists are like, ‘Man this is crazy; I’ve never seen anyone work this hard.’ They almost see progression every day,” Shazier said, as transcribed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette.
“They say like some progressions they see week to week , they see from me day to day.”
Shazier showed some fire and complained that he was left off the Pro Bowl team. He says he has been fueled by that snub. Shazier also said he still
“Since I’ve been in college, I really wanted to go to the Hall of Fame,” Shazier told Nix. “I still want to go to the Hall of Fame. All my goals are like making me want to go to the Hall of Fame.”
Maintaining those goals should help Shazier in his recovery. Nobody knows how much progress he will be able to make in his therapy sessions, but it’s clear he will be doing everything he can to get back to full strength as soon as possible.
Audio of the full interview is below:
Boom !!!!!
https://t.co/x58H79ZzkY— sevelt nix (@Dat_Dude_Nix) February 21, 2018
- Filed Under:
- Football
Ryan Shazier confirms report that he is still unable to walk on his own
Ryan Shazier has made great progress since he suffered a devastating spinal injury just two months ago, but the Steelers linebacker is still unable to walk without assistance.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Shazier has regained movement in his legs and has been taking part in a regular walking routine. NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya later clarified that Shazier is still unable to walk on his own and either uses a walker or has people support him, and Shazier confirmed those details.
@steelers @RyanShazier @SNFonNBC #NFL pic.twitter.com/kahYCRiPGD
— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) February 4, 2018
correct https://t.co/aQFwl3M02m
— Ryan Shazier (@RyanShazier) February 5, 2018
Shazier began inpatient rehabilitation therapy on Dec. 6, which was two days after he suffered a spinal injury while making a routine tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was released from the rehab facility on Thursday.
Shazier was able to attend one of the Steelers’ practices last month, which was a good sign. His father has also provided some encouraging updates about the 25-year-old’s motor skills, so hopefully the progress keeps coming.
- Filed Under:
- Football
Report: Ryan Shazier regains movement in legs, making ‘incredible progress’
Ryan Shazier has made tremendous progress since suffering a spinal injury in early December, and the Pittsburgh Steelers has reportedly regained movement in his legs.
Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Shazier has been taking part in a regular walking routine and is “making incredible progress.” The next three to six months will be critical in determining how much more mobility he can gain, but all signs have been positive for the 25-year-old over the past two months.
Shazier began inpatient rehabilitation therapy on Dec. 6, which was two days after he suffered a spinal injury while making a routine tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was released from the rehab facility on Thursday.
Shazier was able to attend one of the Steelers’ practices last month, which was a good sign. His father has also provided some encouraging updates about the 25-year-old’s motor skills, so hopefully the progress keeps coming.
- Filed Under:
- Football
Ryan Shazier takes another important step in his recovery
Ryan Shazier is still a long way away from being able to think about playing football again, but the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker took yet another positive step in his recovery this week.
On Thursday, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center announced that Shazier has been released from their rehabilitation facility and will continue with an outpatient therapy program.
An update on @steelers Ryan Shazier. pic.twitter.com/CPiizgvSbA
— UPMC (@UPMCnews) February 1, 2018
Shazier began the inpatient therapy on Dec. 6, so he has obviously come a long way in the past two months. He suffered a scary spinal injury on Dec. 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals and later had to undergo surgery.
Shazier was able to attend one of the Steelers’ practices last month, which was a good sign. His father has also provided some encouraging updates about the 25-year-old’s motor skills, so hopefully the progress keeps coming.
- Filed Under:
- Football
Ryan Shazier joins Steelers at practice for first time since injury
The Pittsburgh Steelers should be feeling as hyped up as possible for their upcoming playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they got an added boost on Wednesday from a team leader who will not be able to take the field on Sunday.
Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, who has been out for over a month now, was able to join the team at practice for the first time since he suffered a spinal injury. He shared an emotional post about it on Instagram.
“I want to thank the Lord for the first downs that he has been allowing me to achieve. The touchdown is going to come in his timing, but today was a first down. I was finally able to make it to practice with my teammates,” Shazier wrote. “It’s great to be back for practices and meetings. Just to be able to feel a part of it means the world. So I’m working harder than I ever have to get back. Ive been making strides over the past month and continue to make progress. Taking it day-by-day, but I’m far from done. The Lord has not finished his work yet. I want to say thank you to the fans and Steelers Nation for the prayers. If it wasn’t for my family, friends and your prayers I wouldn’t be were I am now. They have lifted me and my family through this journey and I ask for you to continue praying for me, as I continue to work daily on improving my health. #Shalieve#Steelers#prayfor50”
Shazier has been making progress since he underwent spine surgery last month, though it remains unclear if and when he will be able to play football again. The 25-year-old’s father recently shared an encouraging update.
While the Steelers would love to have Shazier on the field as they try to capture a championship, his mere presence at practice must be a big help for his teammates.
Ryan Shazier has regained feeling in his legs
There is some really good news on the Ryan Shazier front.
Shazier’s father, Vernon, did an interview with WPXI in Pittsburgh that was published on Thursday in which he talked about the importance of faith in his son’s recovery.
Included in the article is the claim from WPXI that Shazier can now feel his legs.
“He’s making progress daily,” Vernon Shazier told WPXI. “He’s a long ways from the night when he was laying on the field.”
Even better, Shazier’s father believes his son will play football again.
Shazier was injured in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4. He suffered a spine injury and was taken to the hospital in Cincinnati for examination. He eventually was transferred to Pittsburgh and underwent spine stabilization surgery.
Getting him back on the field is probably the last thing the Steelers are worried about; they’re probably most concerned with making sure he regains his health. Things seem to be moving in the right direction, which is a great sign.