Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier will not play during the 2018 season, general manager Kevin Colbert confirmed on Wednesday.
Shazier suffered a spinal injury in a Dec. 4 game against the Cincinnati Bengals and underwent spine stabilization surgery two days later. The 25-year-old was released from hospital on Feb. 1, transitioning to an outpatient therapy program.
In his first public comments since suffering the injury, Shazier told teammate Roosevelt Nix on Nix’s podcast last week that he plans to walk again on his own and return to the field.
“I’m really trying to come back and still be a Pro Bowler,” Shazier told Nix. “I’m sorry, because I feel I got snubbed this year for All-Pro even though I got hurt. But I feel like my stats are as good as those who made it.”
Drafted in the first round (15th overall) by the Steelers in 2014, Shazier was quickly becoming one of the NFL’s most influential defensive players before suffering the injury.
— With files from Associated Press
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