Steelers' Shazier undergoes spinal stabilization surgery
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier underwent spinal stabilization surgery Wednesday night, according to a joint statement from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center neurosurgeons and the Steelers' team physicians.
Statement from UPMC Neurosurgeons & #Steelers Team Physicians on Ryan Shazier pic.twitter.com/nE7xgsx7Tx
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) December 7, 2017
Shazier was injured while making a tackle in Monday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. After the play, he was stretchered off the field and taken to hospital.
He was transferred from a Cincinnati hospital to a Pittsburgh facility on Wednesday.
Shazier's recovery could take months, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
"From what I am told by several sources informed of this situation, the recovery that would be associated with the spinal stabilization surgery would take months, three or four or maybe even five or six, just before Ryan Shazier even considers playing football again or his future," Rapoport said. "We don't know much, if anything, about his football playing future. We do know that his 2017 season is over, and he remains hospitalized in Pittsburgh as he recovers from spinal stabilization surgery."
Steelers def. coord. Keith Butler on word that LB Ryan Shazier had spinal stabilization surgery: "I’m not worried about him playing for us again, I’m more worried about him."
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) December 7, 2017