Steelers linebacker who suffered scary back injury needed an unexpected surgery and reportedly may not play football again
John Grieshop/Getty
- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier was hospitalized on Monday after making a head-first tackle.
- Shazier underwent spinal surgery on Thursday despite the team saying on Tuesday that he was not expected to need it.
- A neurologist who consults with the NFLPA said Shazier may not play football again.
The Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday announced that linebacker Ryan Shazier underwent spinal surgery after suffering a spinal injury from a head-on tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday.
Additionally, ESPN's Michele Steele reported on Twitter a neurologist who consults with the NFLPA said the injury is "more severe" than expected and Shazier may not play football again. Steele noted the neurologist had not seen Shazier's medical records and was only giving his professional opinion.
"Just got off phone w neurologist Dr Anthony Alessi, who consults w NFLPA, asked him what he makes of Shazier's spinal stabilization surgery," Steele wrote. "'It's not good...We're not going to see him this season. He may not play football again.'"
Steele also reported via Twitter: "Alessi says surgery is needed when the 'bones around his spinal cord are dislocated. This is a more severe injury (than a contusion.) This is a much more severe situation on our hands than we thought.'"
After making a head-first tackle on Monday, Shazier laid on the field for minutes afterward, grabbing both his head and his back and not moving his legs. He was carted off the field and taken to a hospital.
On Tuesday, the team said his condition was improving and he was not expected to need surgery.
It's unclear what has happened since Tuesday, only that Shazier's condition has not improved in the way the team had hoped. The team announced Shazier had been moved from Cincinnati to a hospital in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Shazier tweeted on Tuesday in response to the well-wishes from around the NFL world:
ESPN reported on Tuesday that Steelers linebacker Vince Williams said Shazier told him at the time of the injury that he had feeling in his lower extremities.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the surgery will take months of recovery, putting Shazier's career at risk.
Thank you for the prayers. Your support is uplifting to me and my family. #SHALIEVE
- Ryan Shazier (@RyanShazier) December 5, 2017
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema
- In second consecutive week of decline, forex kitty drops $2.28 bn to $640.33 bn
- SBI Life Q4 profit rises 4% to ₹811 crore
- IMD predicts severe heatwave conditions over East, South Peninsular India for next five days
- COVID lockdown-related school disruptions will continue to worsen students’ exam results into the 2030s: study
- India legend Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 ambassador
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market