Steelers LB Ryan Shazier Won't Need Surgery After Back Injury
Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier won’t need surgery after a frightening injury on Monday night, the team announced.
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Shazier was taken off the field on a stretcher after being injured while trying to make a tackle on Bengals receiver Josh Malone. Shazier’s teammates were visibly shaken, many of them with tears in their eyes. He immediately grabbed his lower back, rolled over, and did not appear to move his legs after the hit.
Shazier taken to University of Cincinnati Trauma Center, a Level I trauma center, where he was diagnosed with a spinal contusion.
The team announced Shazier's injury won't require surgery at this time, and he stayed overnight in Cincinnati for more evaluation. He may be able to return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He has regained “some movement in his lower extremities,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports.
"Right now we're just happy he's getting the necessary medical attention he deserves," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. "We got a lot of brothers in there who are thoughtful about him, and want to honor that performance for him."
The injury elicited an outpouring of support for Shazier from players around the league.
Shazier, a 2014 first-round pick out of Ohio State, has started all 12 games for the Steelers this season.
