Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier was stretchered off the field in the first quarter of Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals after colliding with Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone.
Shazier then left the stadium in an ambulance to be evaluated for a back injury.
Following the collision, he reached for his back and then lay on the field. He was able to lift his head while medical staff attended to him.
Ryan Shazier just carted off the field after this hit.He didn't move his legs at all while being attended to. Hope he's okay. #PITvsCIN pic.twitter.com/BvlBy0Kkl1
— YourSports (@YourSports) December 5, 2017
A source said after the game the injury was "better than it could have been," according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Shazier is ranked as Pro Football Focus' No. 8 linebacker on the season. The fourth-year player has recorded 87 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, one recovery, and three interceptions in 11 games.
"We care about that man... it's a tough element of our game," head coach Mike Tomlin said, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network.
Tomlin declined to speculate on Shazier's status.
The hospital would not confirm Shazier's condition, telling reporters the team will make an official statement at the "appropriate time," according to ESPN's Michele Steele.
